Page:The Journal of Indian Botany.djvu/69

Rh Text fig. 2. Fig. B. p. 46 a branch. Text Fig. 2. 1. flower-buds, 2. open flower, 3. petals and ovary, 4. ovary, 5. fruit, 6. fruit cut open, 7. seed.

This species is no doubt closely allied to Polygala chinensis L., but differs from it in the following respects. The stems and leaves are more pubescent than in Polygala chinensis L., the flowers are smaller than those of the other, rose-purple and not yellow, the wing sepals are pubescent and not glabrous, the capsules are oblong and longer than broad and not rounded and broader than long as in Polygala chinensis L., seeds are oblong and not broadly ovate oblong and plumpy, strophiole is without any wing or rarely with minute obscure wings on two of the arms, not with wings as in Polygala chinensis L.

These differences are sufficient to consider this a distinct species. As the name Polygala arvensis Willd. is a synonym of Polygala chinensis L., a new name should be given to this plant. Specimens of this plant are being sent to Mr. Gamble and to Kew, and after hearing from them this will be named.

This plant appears to be the one described by Wight and Arnott in their Prodromus as Polygala arvensis Willd. var γ. and it is figured in Rheede's Hort. Mai. Vol. 9 t. 61.

3. Polygala bolbothrix Dunn. This is a freely branching annual herb. Stems and branches are diffuse, prostrate and the whole plant is covered with scattered bulbous-based hairs. Leaves are linearoblong to narrowly oblong linear, glabrous, obtuse, mucronate, varying in length from ½ to 1½ inches, margins with distant bulbous-based



cilia, especially so on the lower half. Racemes are extra axillary,