Polygala paucifolia (Fringed polygala)

FloraFinder uses cookies only for correct operation. More info. Okay

Polygala paucifolia Willd.

Fringed polygala, gaywings, fringed milkwort

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Rosidae	Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order	Polygalales	Includes milkwort, krameria, and Barbados cherry families
Family	Polygalaceae	Milkwort family. Also called Diclidantheraceae, Moutabeaceae, Xanthophyllaceae)
Genus	Polygala	From Greek polys, “many or much,” and gala, “milk,” since some of these species were believed to increase milk yields in cattle
Species	paucifolia	With little foliage, literally “few-leaved”

About plant names...

Fringed polygala is a North American native plant. Polygala means "much milk," a reference to fringed polygala’s reputed ability to stimulate the production of milk in people and other mammals. It is found in all forests, except the wettest and the driest, most often with fir, cedar, birch, aspen, hemlock, and pines. It is common near shorelines, in calcerous or sandy soils.

When I first noticed these tiny but colorful flowers, I thought they must be violets, which were also in bloom. On closer inspection, though, they look much different, more like orchids, for which they are sometimes mistaken. But these flowers have a fringed center and two large opposing petals, hence the name “gaywings.”

Plants: Evergreen, and less than 6" (15 cm) in height.

Leaves: Upper leaves are oval, and near the top of the stem, just beneath the flowers. They are not separated into leaflets, and they are entire, that is, not divided. Leaf edges are rough, but not toothed. They are 1-1½" (2.5-3.8 cm) × ½-¾" (1.3-1.9 cm).

Flowers: Each diminutive plant sports one to four flowers. They are a bright magenta or pink color, about ¾-1" (1.9-2.5 cm) in size. Rarely, flowers are white, or blue to purple. Each flower has two showy side petals—the “wings”—and a central tubelike structure. The tube is comprised of two smaller equally bright petals, and a third, which extends a bit further, ending in a bright pink or white “pom pom.” Five sepals are largely enclosed within the pink tube. Flowers appears from May to June.

Fruits: Capsules are somewhat heart-shaped, up to ⅛" (6 mm) long.

Medical: Fringed polygala was once believed to contain compounds that stimulate milk production in nursing mammals. It has also been used historically for abscesses, boils, and sores.

Online References:

The U.S. Forest Service Celebrating Wildflowers site

Ontario Wildflowers

Henriette’s Herbal Homepage

CalPhotos

Gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org

The Connecticut Botanical Society's Connecticut wildflowers site

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Michiganflora.net