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Photographer: Kitty Kohout
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Family Polygalaceae
Polygala senega L.
Seneca snakeroot, senega root
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
senega: of the Senecas
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| Status: | Native |
| Plant: | erect, perennial, 4"-20" tall forb; stems mostly clustered, unbranched |
| Flower: | white, 5-parted, 1/4" wide, wider than long, 5 petal-like sepals with the 3 inner ones small and the 2 outer ones large, wing-like, widely elliptical; inflorescence a 1 1/2" dense, spike-like, blunt-tipped, long-stalked cluster (raceme); blooms May-June |
| Leaf: | alternate, lower scale-like, upper linear to lance-like |
| Habitat: | dry to moist; woods, prairies; in often limy soil |
| (Glossary) |
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