POLYGALA MONSPELIACA

Family and Genus:- See- POLYGALACEAE

Common Names:- Mediterranean milkwort

Homotypic Synonyms:- Polygala glumacea, Polygala sicula, Polygala

straminea, Tricholophus monspeliacus.

Meaning:- Polygala (Gr) Much-milk, (reference to the reputed improved milk yield

in cattle fed on milkworts.

Monspeliaca (L) From Montpellier, S. France.

General description:- Herbaceous, annual with a slender taproot, little branched,

Stems:-

1) Erect, solitary or few, slender, suberect, usually 10-20 cm tall.

Leaves:-

1) Leaves;

a) lower, narrowly elliptical,

b) upper, linear-lanceolate, acute.

Flowers:-

1) In a lax terminal raceme usually occupying at least half of stem, on pedicels

1-3 mm, erecto-patent at first, later nodding.

2) Sepals;

a) inner, (wings) 6-8 mm, narrowly elliptical, greenish-white, with conspicuous

veins.

3) Calyx, with 2 large wings from 6-9 mm, greenish white, up to twice as long as

the petals.

3) Corolla, shorter than the wings, whitish.

4) Keel, with a wide crest.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, c. 5 x 3 mm, sessile, flat, narrowly obcordate, winged.

Key features:-

1) Wings, 6-8 mm.

2) Corolla, whitish.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Dry open shrubby vegetation, scrubland vegetation , dry grassland, open

coniferous woodland, olive groves. 0-800(-1200) m.

Distribution:- Scattered throughout mainland Greece. Widespread in the

Mediterranean region and eastwards to Iraq and Iran. A somewhat scattered

distribution across Crete

Flowering time:- Late Mar to early June.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton