Polygalaceae

Racemed milkwort

Polygala polygama Walter

Family: Polygalaceae
Genus: Polygala

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Racemed milkwort: Photo of Polygala polygama in flower. This is a native plant growing wild in Great Falls Park, in Fairfax county Virginia, USA. This species is a member of the — Photo: Fritzflohrreynolds, CC BY-SA 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons

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Common names

By language (2)

Arabic: مستدرة مرة, مغزرة أصلية
English: Racemed milkwort, Bitter polygala

Synonyms

Anthalogea polygama Raf.
Anthalogea polygama Nieuwl.
Polygala aboriginum Small
Polygala polygama f. polygama
Polygala polygama var. polygama
Polygala rubella Willd.

Characteristics

Growth habit: Forb/herb
Lifespan: Biennial
In the US and Canada: Canada: native, Lower 48 states: native

Photos

Photo: Fritzflohrreynolds, CC BY-SA 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons

More in Polygala

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Dwarf milkwortPolygala amarellaPolygalaceae
Tufted milkwortPolygala comosaPolygalaceae
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Myrtle-leaf milkwortPolygala myrtifoliaPolygalaceae
Chalk milkwortPolygala calcareaPolygalaceae
Polygala alpestrisPolygalaceae
Seneca snakerootPolygala senegaPolygalaceae
Polygala tenuifoliaPolygalaceae
Bitter milkwortPolygala amaraPolygalaceae
Polygala majorPolygalaceae
Polygala sibiricaPolygalaceae

Sources: classification, synonyms from World Flora Online Plant List (2026-06, CC0 1.0); common names, popularity from Wikidata (2026-10-26, CC0 1.0); common names, US characteristics from USDA PLANTS Database (2025-05-29, CC0 1.0). About our plant data.