Polygala chamaebuxus, L.

2. P. chamaebuxus L. View in CoL , Sp. Pl. 704 (1753).

Decumbent dwarf shrub 5-15 cm. Leaves 15-30 x (3—)5—10 mm, coriaceous, ovate to linear-lanceolate. Flowers solitary or in pairs in leaf-axils. Outer sepals unequal, the upper larger; wings patent, white to yellow, sometimes pinkish-purple. Corolla 10-14 mm; upper petals shorter than keel; keel with very small, 2- to 6-lobed crest; tube and upper petals similar in colour to wings; keel bright yellow, becoming purple or brownish-red. Capsule 6-8 mm, sessile, surrounded by a wing less than 1 mm wide. 2« = 38, c. 46. Woods, pastures and rocky slopes, mainly in the mountains. • Alps and W.C. Europe, northwards to c. 5\°N. in Germany, and extending southwards to S. Italy and W. Jugoslavia. Au Cz Ga Ge He?Hu It Ju Rm.