Polygala vulgaris, L.

24. P. vulgaris L. View in CoL , Sp. Pl. 702 (1753)

(inch P. oxyptera Reichenb. ).

Stock woody, branched. Stems 7-35 cm, ascending to erect, glabrous or sparsely hairy. Leaves alternate, not bitter, the lower obovate to elliptical, the upper longer, linear-lanceolate. Racemes with 10-40 flowers, rather dense, conical at first, elongating in fruit; bracts membranous except for the midrib, scarcely exceeding pedicels in flower and shorter than flower-buds, caducous. Flowers blue, pink or white. Wings (3-)4-7(-8) mm, with 3 anastomosing veins. Corolla-tube usually longer than upper petals. Style usually 1-11 times as long as stigma. Capsule about as long as wings. Seeds oblong-ellipsoid; lobes of strophiole about j as long as seed. 2« = 28, 32, 48, c. 56, 68, c. 70. Most of Europe westwards from N. W. Russia and C. Ukraine. All except?B1 Cr Is Rs (K, E) Sb?Si. Extremely variable; of the more widespread variants P. oxyptera Reichenb. , Pl. Crit. 1: 25 (1823), seems to have the strongest claim for recognition at specific rank; it is distinguished by the lanceolate to lanceolate-elliptical, acute wings, never wider than the capsule. It appears, however, that although in some regions (e.g. Poland) it is constant and readily distinguishable, in others (e.g. Britain) it is not. P. carniolica var. stojanovii (Stefanov) Stoj. & Stefanov , from S.W. Bulgaria, appears to be indistinguishable from 24 except for the presence of axillary racemes below the terminal one.