Polygala comosa, Schkuhr

23. P. comosa Schkuhr View in CoL , Handb. 2: 324 (1796).

Stems 7-20(-40) cm, erect or ascending. Lower leaves narrowly spathulate to obovate, obtuse, usually falling before anthesis; upper leaves linear to linear-lanceolate, acute. Racemes with 15-50 flowers, conical to cylindrical, dense; bracts 2-5 mm, linear, acuminate, exceeding the flower-buds, often persisting throughout anthesis. Flowers usually lilac-pink. Wings 4—6(—8) mm. Corolla about as long as wings. Capsule obcordate-cuneate, shorter than wings and about as wide, narrowly winged. Strophiole hairy; lateral lobes about | as long as seed. 2n = 28-32, 34. Mainly in C. & E. Europe, but extending to S. Sweden, Belgium, N. Spain and N. Italy. Al Au Be Bu Cz Fe Ga Ge G r He Ho Hs Hu It Ju Po Rm Rs (N, B, C, W, K) Su Tu. Rather variable, and not always clearly distinguishable from 21 and 24; its eastern and southern limits are, therefore, somewhat uncertain.