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Photographer: Emmet J. Judziewicz
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Family Polygalaceae
Polygala verticillata L.
whorled 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
verticillata: whorled
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| Status: | Native |
| Plant: | erect, annual, 4"-16" tall forb; stems widely branched |
| Flower: | white to green to pink, 5-parted, 1/4"-1/2" long, about half to 2/3 as wide as long, 5 petal-like sepals with the 3 inner ones small and the 2 outer ones large, wing-like; inflorescence a 1 1/2" conical to cylindrical, dense, stalked cluster (raceme) with a pointed tip; blooms July-Oct. |
| Leaf: | linear to narrowly oblong, usually in whorls of 2-5 |
| Habitat: | moderate moisture to moist; prairies, woods; in sandy soil |
| (Glossary) |
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