Polygala nicaeensis, Risso ex Koch

21. P. nicaeensis Risso ex Koch View in CoL in Rohling, Deutschl. FI. ed. 3, 5: 68 (1839).

Stems (10-)15-40cm, usually ascending from a decumbent, woody base. Lower leaves spathulate to linearlanceolate, the others lanceolate to linear. Racemes 3-15 cm, with 8-40 flowers, usually very lax; bracts exceeding pedicels and slightly exceeding flower-buds, caducous. Flowers pink, less often blue or white. Wings (5—)8—11 mm, 3- to 5-veined. Corolla-tube about half as long as wings, shorter than upper petals. Gynophore up to 1-5 mm in fruit. Capsule shorter than wings. Lateral lobes of strophiole about half as long as seed. Dry, grassy or stony places. S. & S.C. Europe, extending to S.E. Russia. Al Au Bu Co Ga Ge G r He Hs Hu It Ju?Rm Rs (C, W,E). 1 Outer sepals at least half as long as wings

2 Outer sepals scarcely longer than corolla-tube; flowers usually blue (g) subsp. carniolica

2 Outer sepals almost as long as keel (excluding crest); flowers usually pink (h) subsp. forojulensis

1 Outer sepals less than half as long as wings

3 Upper petals scarcely longer than wings (e) subsp. caesalpinii

3 Upper petals longer than wings, usually clearly exserted 4Wings 6-8 mm, lanceolate (f) subsp. gariodiana 4 Wings (7—)8—11 mm, usually elliptical to suborbicular 5 Stem and leaves ± tomentose (c) subsp. tomentella 5 Stem and leaves glabrous to pubescent 6 Basal leaves obovate to spathulate, persistent to anthesis (a) subsp. nicaeensis 6 Leaves all linear-lanceolate to lanceolate (the basal sometimes deciduous before anthesis) 7 Seeds oblong; lateral lobes of strophiole straight (b) subsp. mediterranea 7 Seeds ovoid to pyriform; lateral lobes of strophiole crescentic (d) subsp. Corsica