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Photographer: Emmet J. Judziewicz
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Family Polygalaceae
Polygala cruciata L.
cross milkwort, cross-leaf milkwort, drum-heads
Polygala: from Greek polys, "many or much," and gala, "milk," since it was thought that the presence of some of the species in a pasture increased the yield of milk
cruciata: cross-shaped
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| Status: | Native |
| Plant: | erect, annual, 4"-12" tall forb; stems usually branched but sometimes solitary |
| Flower: | pale rose to greenish, 5-parted, 1/4"-3/8" wide, 5 petal-like sepals with the 3 inner ones small and the 2 outer ones large, triangular, and wing-like; inflorescence a cylindrical, mostly stalkless cluster (raceme) with a rounded top; blooms July-Sept. |
| Leaf: | mostly in whorls of 3-4 |
| Habitat: | damp to wet; marshes, pine barrens |
| (Glossary) |
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