White Milkwort

Polygala alba Nutt. Gen. 2: 87. 1818
Polygala Senega tenuifolia Pursh, Fl. Am. Sept. 750. 1814.
Polygala bicolor H.B.K. Nov. Gen. & Sp. 5: 394. 1823.
Polygala Torreyi G. Don, Gen. Hist. 1: 360. 1831.
Polygala Bcyrichii T. 8c G. Fl. N. Am. 1 : 130. 1838.
lAsemeia alba Raf. New Fl. 4: 88. 1838.
tAsemeia leplopsis Raf. New Fl. 4: 88, as synonym. 1838.
Polygala alba bicolor Chod. Mem. Soc. Phys. Geneve 31 (2) 2 : 136. 1893.
Polygala alba brachystachya Chod. MemSoc. Phys. Geneve 31 (2) 2 : 136. 1893.
Polygala alba leploslachya Chod. Mem. Soc. Phys. Geneve 31(2) ! : 137. 1893.
Polygala alba mexicana Chod. Mem. Soc. Phys. Geneve 31(2)*: 137. 1893.
Polygala alba tenuifolia Blake, Contr. Gray Herb. 47: 86. 1916.
Stems numerous from a perennial root, often with a cluster of short leafy branches at base, erect or ascending, simple or sparsely branched, 2-3.5 dm. high; leaves scattered, except for 1 or 2 whorls at base, the lowest spatulate-obovate, 4-12 mm. long, 1.5-2.5 mm. wide, the others linear, acuminate, cuspidate, 0.8-2.5 cm. long, 1-1.5 mm. wide; racemes dense, conic-cylindric, 5-8 mm. thick, 2-8.5 cm. long; flowers white with green center, the crest often purple; sepals ovate to oblong, obtuse, 1.3-1.5 mm. long; wings elliptic, 2.9 mm. long, 1.6 mm. wide, rounded, at base short-cuneate; keel 3 mm. long, the crest of 4 lobes on each side; capsule elliptic or oblong-elliptic, 2.5-2.9 mm. long, 1.3-1.6 mm. wide; seed pilose, 2.3-2.5 mm. long; aril 0.S-1.5 mm. high, the 2 lobes oblong, appressed. Type locality: Plains of the Missouri.
Distribution: Louisiana to Dakota and Washington, and southward to Puebla.