Genus Polygala L. Род 476. ТЕЛЧАРКА — POLYGALA L.¹
L., Sp. Pl. ed. 1 (1753) 701; Gen. Pl. ed. 5 (1754) 315
Fam: Poligalaceae R. BR.
Genus: Polygala L.
English Name: Milkworts or SnakerootsDescription: Shrubs, semi-shrubs, perennial and annual herbs. Stems at the base often with basal or laterally developed rosettes and with entire, consecutive or bundled stem leaves, sometimes lower opposite or often falling, all with 1 vein, without stipules, flat or bent at the edges. Inflorescence top or laterally arranged cluster. The blossoms are bisexual, irregular, bilaterally symmetrical, with 3 bracts at the base. Calyx of 5 non-falling leaves - 3 outer, shorter and narrow, often velvety discolored, the upper sometimes swollen at the base and 2 longer, corolla-lile, inner (wings) with 1 - 6 anastomosing or branched veins. Petals 3 (the other two reduced), more or less adherent to the base in a tube, and to the top with loose shares, with or without ears; the lowest petal (keel) on the tip with a dichotomous branch or simple tuft, often assembled in strands of strands, or shallowly set ridge plates. Stamens 8 (the other two reduced), their petioles more or less fused with the corolla; one-nest anthers opening to the top, with a furrow. The carpellum with an upper, two-celled ovary. The style one. Two-parted stigma.
The fruit is flattened dorsal abdomen, bifurcated, more or less winged at the end, sessile or on carpophore, in each nest with one fibrous, provided with a tripartite seed. Cross pollinated by fenders and small coleopterous insects, they reproduce by seeds and vegetatively.
Economic importance. Medicinal and honey plants. They contain phenol, glycoside gualterin, some saponins and bitter substances. P. amarella and P. major are used in folk medicine because of their secretolytic action in diseases of the respiratory system and cough, pulmonary inflammation, gastrointestinal catarrh, They are not fodder plants. P. vulgaris leaves are used in young condition for salad.
Table for determination of the species
1 Corolla much shorter than the wings. The shares of the seed appendage 1/8 - 1/10 of the length of the seed and do not cover its base .................................................................................................................. 14. - P. monspeliaca L.
1* Corolla equal in length to the wings, slightly shorter or clearly longer than them. The parts of the seed appendage not less than 1/4 of the length of the seed and always cover its base ....................................................................... 2
2 Sepals uneven in shape, the above longer, basically swollen or arcuately curved ...............…….......................... .......................................................................................................................... 1 - 3. Crawler calf group - P. supina
2* Sepals identical in shape, straight, not swollen at the base .................................................................................. 3
3 Stems at the base with leaf rosettes. Wings 3 - 4 mm long .............................................. 13. - P. amarella Crantz
3* Stems at the base without leaf rosettes, often with short sterile shoots. Wings longer than 4 mm ......................... 4
4 Corolla up to half of wings, straight; corolla shorter or barely longer than them .................................................. 5
4* The corolla tube over 2/3 of the length of the wings, curved upwards; corolla clearly longer than them .............................................................................................................................. 3 - 6. Large group, calf - P. major
5 Sepals at least to the tip along the edge of the eyelashes; boxes of carpophore not less than 1/4 of their length ... 6
5* Sepals on edge entire; boxes sit down ................................................................................................................... 7
6 Carpophores 1.5 - 2.0 (2.5) mm long, 1/3 of the box length. Wings elliptical lance, pointed ....................................................................................................7. - P. mediterranea (Chodat) Dal a Torre et Sarnth.
6* Carpophore 1,0 (1,5) mm long, 1/4 of the length of the box. Wings elliptically ovate, blunt ..................... .......................………….................................................................................................…….. 8. - P. carniolica Kern.
7 Bracts longer than blossom petioles. Inflorescences on top with hood of bracts of undeveloped flowers ................................................................................................................................................. 9. - P. comosa Schkuhr
7* Bracts shorter than blossom petioles. Inflorescences on top without hood of bracts of undeveloped flowers ....... 8
8 Box narrower or equal to the length of the wings, the latter with 3 - 5 strongly branched veins ........................................................................................................................................................ 10. - P. vulgaris L.
8* Box wider than the wings, the latter with 3 (5) slightly branched or anastomosing veins ...................................... 9
9 Inflorescences up to 5 mm long or missing, the base leaves much shorter than the stems ........................................................................................................................................... 12. - P. alpestris Reichenb.
9* Inflorescence petioles usually longer than 10 mm. Basal leaves equal to stem (leaves) or slightly shorter ......................................................................................................................................... 11. - P . oxyptera Reichenb.¹ Developed by St. Kozhuharov and A. Petrova.
From „Флора на Н Р България”, том VII, БАН, София, (1979)
* * * Polygala is a large genus of flowering plants belonging to the familyPolygalaceae. They are commonly known as milkworts or snakeroots. The genus is distributed widely throughout much of the world[1] in temperate zones and the tropics.[2] The genus name Polygala comes from the ancient Greek"much milk", as the plant was thought to increase milk yields in cattle.[3]
Description[edit]
Polygala includes annual and perennial plants, shrubs, vines, and trees.[1] The roots often have a scent reminiscent of wintergreen.[2] The leaf blades are generally undivided and smooth-edged, and are alternately arranged in most species. The inflorescence is a raceme or spikelike array of several flowers; the occasional species bears solitary flowers.[2] The flower is bilateral in shape, with two large petal-like sepals on the sides, often called the "wings",[2] and three smaller sepals behind. There are three petals in shades of reddish purple, yellow or white, which are joined at the bases. The lower of the three is the keel petal, which is "boat-shaped, cucullate [hood-like], or helmet-shaped".[1] The keel petal may have a beak or a fringe on the tip.[2] Stamens and style are within the curve of the keel petal. The fruit is a capsule, sometimes winged. It contains two seeds,[1] which are usually black, hairy and tipped with a large white aril.[2] One polygala is the Fringed Polygala, found in coniferous forests.
Ecology[edit]
Polygala species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidopteraspecies including large grizzled skipper.
Uses[edit]
Some species are valued in cultivation. The hybrid evergreen shrub P. ×dalmaisiana (P. myrtifolia × P. oppositifolia) has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[4]
Diversity[edit]
The reported number of valid species in the genus varies from about 350[5] to 500[1][2] to 725[6] or 730.[7] The Americas have the most species, especially South America,[7] with Africa second in diversity and Asia third.[6]
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
* * *
Distribution in Bulgaria: (Conspectus of the Bulgarian Vascular Flora) = conspectus&gs_l= Zlc.
Distribution:References: „Флора на Н Р България”, том VII, БАН, София, (1979), Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
SPECIES:
Polygala alpestris Reichenb. - Mountain milkwort
Polygala major Jacq. - no common name found
Polygala vulgaris L. - Common milkwort
|
© K.Nanev |
© Copy right: K. Nanev© 2012. All rights reserved