Polygala sibirica L.

Very variable. Found throughout the country except Sind. 1060-2700 m alt. s.m.

Perennial, + pubescent, erect, 10-25 cm tall. Stems usually many from the base. Lower leaves smaller, ovate; upper leaves larger, elliptic or linear-lanceolate, recurved, + acuminate, 3-27 mm long, 1-10 mm broad. Racemes terminal and lateral, 1-10 cm long. Bracts caducous. Pedicel 2-3.5 mm, elongating in fruit to 3-5 mm. Sepals persistent; outer sepals + equal, narrowly hyaline margined; inner sepals ovate-lanceolate, acute-acuminate, oblique, falcate, 4-6 mm long, 1.5-3 mm broad, covering less than 1/2 of the fruit, ciliate, 3-nerved, veinlets hardly anastomosing. Lateral petals equalling or shorter than keel; keel 4-5 mm long, crested. Capsule obcordate, 5.5-6 mm long, 5-5.5 mm broad, glabrous, wing 0.5-0.75 mm, ciliate. Seeds pilose, strophiolar appendages 3, 1/2 to 2/3 as long as the seed.

Herbs perennial, 10-30 cm tall. Roots woody. Stems caespitose, often erect, pubescent. Petiole short; leaf blade papery or subleathery; lower leaves ovate, small, ca. 6 × 4 mm, apex obtuse; upper leaves lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, large, 10-20 × 3-6 mm, green, both surfaces pubescent, midvein raised abaxially, impressed adaxially, lateral veins obscure or raised adaxially, base cuneate, margin entire, slightly recurved, apex obtuse, with acumen. Racemes extra-axillary or pseudoterminal, usually over apex of stem, branches pubescent, few flowered; bracteoles 3, subulate-lanceolate, ca. 2 mm, pubescent. Flowers 6-10 mm. Sepals 5, persistent, outside pubescent, ciliate; outer sepals 3, lanceolate, ca. 3 mm; inner sepals 2, petaloid, subfalcate, ca. 7.5 × 3 mm, greenish, base unguiculate, apex cuspidate. Petals 3, connate in lower 2/5, blue-purple; lateral petals 5-6 mm, longer than keel, inside hairy at base, apex rounded, retuse; keel hairy abaxially, apex with fimbriate appendages. Stamens 8; filaments 5-6 mm, united at least in lower 2/3, forming an open ciliate staminal sheath; anthers ovoid. Ovary obovoid, ca. 2 mm in diam., apex ciliate; style thickened, apex curved, ca. 5 mm; stigmas moderately well separated. Capsule subcordate, ca. 5 mm in diam., narrowly winged, shortly ciliate, apex retuse. Seeds black, compressed-oblong, ca. 1.5 mm, densely white pubescent, with white strophiole. Fl. Apr-Jul, fr. May-Aug. 2n = 34.

Distribution: Europe and Asia.

Gansu, Guizhou, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, India, Japan, Kashmir, Korea, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia; SW Asia, Australia, Europe].

Fl. Per.: April-May.

Shrub forests, sparse forests, forest margins, grasslands on sandy loam, grassy slopes, gravel, limestone mountains, roadsides on hills; 1100-3300 m.