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Photographer: Kenneth J. Sytsma
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Family Polygalaceae
Polygala polygama Walter var. obtusata Chodat
bitter milkwort, purple milkwort, racemed milkwort
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
polygama: polygamous, with both single and dual sex flowers on one or different plants
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| Status: | Native |
| Plant: | erect, biennial, 4"-10" tall forb; stems smooth, clustered |
| Flower: | rose-purple to white, 5-parted, 1/3"-3/8" wide, wider than long, 5 petal-like sepals with the 3 inner ones small and the 2 outer ones large, wing-like, oval with a wider tip; inflorescence a 3/4"-4" tall, loose, open cluster (raceme); blooms June-Aug. |
| Leaf: | lower obovate, upper linear to narrowly elliptical |
| Habitat: | dry; prairies; in sandy soil |
| (Glossary) |
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