The Polygalaceae or the milkwort family are made up of flowering plants in the order Fabales. They have a near-cosmopolitan range, with about 27 genera and ca. 900 known species[2] of herbs, shrubs and trees. Over half of the species are in one genus, Polygala, the milkworts.
The family was first described in 1809 by Johann Hoffmansegg and Johann Link.[3] In 1896, Robert Chodat split it into 3 tribes. A fourth tribe was split off from the tribe Polygaleae in 1992.[4] Under the Cronquist classification system, Polygalaceae were treated in a separate order of their own, Polygalales. Currently, according to the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group, the family belongs in Fabales.
Polygalaceae are annual or perennial herbs, shrubs, shrublets, and small trees. Its zygomorphic, hermaphrodite, bisexual flowers have 3-5 petals and 5 sepals.[5][6] Its leaves are usually alternate, but may be opposite, fascicled, or verticillate.[5] Each flower usually contains 8 stamens, though this may range from 3 to 10. They are usually in 2 series.[6] The fruits of each plant can be a capsule, samara, or drupe.[5]
The Polygalaceae comprise the following genera,[5] with tribes based on various sources.[7][8][9][10][11][12]
Modern molecular phylogenetics suggest the following relationships:[12][13][14][15][16][17]
Polygalaceae Xanthophylleae MoutabeaeBalgoya (now included in Moutabea)
Carpolobieae Polygaleae Clade I Clade IIPolygala subgen. Chodatia
Polygala subgen. Polygala (Old World Clade)
Polygala subgen. Polygala (New World Clade)
The Polygalaceae or the milkwort family are made up of flowering plants in the order Fabales. They have a near-cosmopolitan range, with about 27 genera and ca. 900 known species of herbs, shrubs and trees. Over half of the species are in one genus, Polygala, the milkworts.
The family was first described in 1809 by Johann Hoffmansegg and Johann Link. In 1896, Robert Chodat split it into 3 tribes. A fourth tribe was split off from the tribe Polygaleae in 1992. Under the Cronquist classification system, Polygalaceae were treated in a separate order of their own, Polygalales. Currently, according to the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group, the family belongs in Fabales.
