| Dwarf milkwort | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Polygalaceae |
| Genus: | Polygala |
| Species: | P. amarella |
| Binomial name | |
| Polygala amarella | |
Polygala amarella (or P. amara), commonly known as dwarf milkwort or Kentish milkwort, is a plant of the family Polygalaceae. A European native, it grows on chalky grass land and limestone mountain pastures.
Dwarf milkwort is a tiny, erect perennial that grows up to 20 cm but is often just 1.5 - 5 cm tall, with a basal rosette of shiny, obovate leaves. Leaves on the unbranched stem are alternate and narrowly lanceolate. The stem is slightly woody at the base. It has typically 7-20 zygomorphic flowers, arranged in a raceme, that are variable in colour from pale mauve to white, with hints of green in populations in Kent. The flowers are 2.5-5 mm long and have three tiny outer sepals, two large, coloured inner sepals and three small, white true petals that are fused. [1]
This species is very similar to chalk milkwort but can easily be separated from it by the rosette leaves being basal in dwarf milkwort, but slightly raised on the stem in chalk milkwort. Also, dwarf milkwort has a bitter taste (not so in chalk milkwort). In dwarf milkwort the inner sepals are longer than the petals. [1]
Widespread throughout Europe, especially in the Alps, but currently only found in Kent and Yorkshire in the UK, where it is found at the periphery of its range. Mostly found on chalky grasslands of Kent on the North Downs, and on limestone outcrops in the Yorkshire Dales.
The Ellenberg values: L=9, F=6, R=9, N=1, S=0 which means that the plant grows in full light, moist, basic, infertile soils with no salinity. It is a short lived polycarpic perennial. Reproduction is solely by seeds, which have a small oily appendage (known as the elaiosome), which aids dispersal by ants. It is believed the Kent population is shorter-lived than the Northern British population. The seeds persist in the soil for less than a year.
Dawrf milkwort has traditionally been used in herbal medicine. [2]
In 2009 it featured on a first class Royal Mail stamp in the series "Endangered Plants". [3]
Polygala vulgaris, known as the common milkwort, is a herbaceous perennial plant of the genus Polygala in the family Polygalaceae.
Ranunculus bulbosus, commonly known as bulbous buttercup or St. Anthony's turnip, is a perennial flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. It has bright yellow flowers, and deeply divided, three-lobed long-petioled basal leaves.
Draba aizoides is a species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae, known as yellow whitlow-grass. It is native to Europe where it is found on limestone rocks and walls. In the British Isles it is found only on the Gower Peninsula in Wales.
Spiranthes spiralis, commonly known as autumn lady's-tresses, is an orchid that grows in Europe and adjacent North Africa and Asia. It is a small grey-green plant. It forms a rosette of four to five pointed, sessile, ovate leaves about 3 cm (1.2 in) in length. In late summer an unbranched stem of about 10–15 cm (3.9–5.9 in) tall is produced with approximately four sheath-shaped leaves. The white flowers are about 5 mm (0.20 in) long and have a green spot on the lower lip. They are arranged in a helix around the upper half of the stalk. The species is listed in Appendix II of CITES as a species that is not currently threatened with extinction but that may become so. Autumn lady's-tresses are legally protected in Belgium and the Netherlands, and in some regions of France.
Helleborus foetidus, known variously as stinking hellebore, dungwort, setterwort and bear's foot, is a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, native to the mountainous regions of Central and Southern Europe and Asia Minor. It is found wild in many parts of England, especially on limestone soil.
Iris lacustris, the dwarf lake iris, is a plant species in the genus Iris, subgenus Limniris and in the section Lophiris. It is a rhizomatous, beardless perennial plant, native to the Great Lakes region of eastern North America. It has lavender blue or violet-blue flowers, a very short stem and long fan-like green leaves. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions. It is closely related to Iris cristata.
Iris cristata is a species in the genus Iris, and is part of the subgenus of Limniris. It is a rhizomatous perennial plant, endemic to the eastern United States. It has pale lavender flowers with a white patch and orange or yellow crest. It is a close relative to Iris lacustris, the only other crested iris native to North America. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.
Acalypha rhomboidea is a plant in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae.
Dudleya pulverulenta is a species of perennial succulent plant known by the common names chalk lettuce, chalk dudleya, and chalk liveforever. It is one of the largest Dudleya, with a silvery, waxy rosette that may greatly contrast with its habitat. It is also regarded as one of the most distinctive members of the Dudleya, with one of the most specialized inflorescences in the genus, adapted to hummingbird pollination through its red pendent flowers, the longest corolla, and the highest nectar output. Dudleya pulverulenta has the largest range of all Dudleya, over 1,000 kilometres (620 mi), being found from southern Monterey County in California to the Sierra de San Borja in southern Baja California. It is closely related to Dudleya arizonica, a smaller desert species that tends to lack the specialized floral traits, and Dudleya anthonyi, which differs in a few morphological traits and is restricted to the San Quintín Volcanic Field.
Lepidium densiflorum is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family known by the common names common pepperweed, prairie peppergrass, elongate peppergrass, hairy-fruited peppergrass, and large-fruited peppergrass.
Ehrendorferia ochroleuca, commonly known as white eardrops or yellow bleeding-heart, is a biennial or perennial, native to gravelly areas in the chaparral and woodlands of California and in Baja California.
Camissoniopsis bistorta is a species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family known by the common names southern suncup and California suncup. It is native to southern California and Baja California, where it grows in several types of plant community along the coast and in the coastal hills and mountain ranges. This is a hairy annual or short-lived perennial herb spreading from a basal rosette, with stems reaching up to 80 centimeters long. The leaves are narrow and sometimes toothed, and 1 to 12 centimeters in length. Toward the end of the spreading stems are nodding inflorescences of flowers, each flower with four bright yellow petals dotted with red at their bases.
Meconopsis horridula, the prickly blue poppy, is a flowering plant from the family Papaveraceae. It grows in high altitudes. The height of the plant varies from 20 cm to 1m. It is a monocarpic, dicot plant.
Pinguicula lutea, commonly known as the yellow butterwort, is a species of warm-temperate carnivorous plant in the family Lentibulariaceae. It grows in savannas and sandy bog areas of the Southeastern United States.
Iris kobayashii is a beardless iris in the genus Iris, in the subgenus Limniris and in the series Tenuifoliae of the genus. It is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial, from China. It has slightly twisted leaves, short stems and 1 to 2 purple or blue and yellow flowers.
Iris pontica is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Limniris and in series Spuriae. It is a dwarf rhizomatous perennial plant from eastern Europe, the Causcasus region and Russia, with a short stem and violet-blue and white flowers. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.
Iris sintenisii is a species in the genus Iris, in the subgenus Limniris and in series Spuriae, with tall thin stems, violet-blue flowers and long grass-like leaves. It is a rhizomatous perennial plant, from grass meadows parts of Europe, Russia, and Turkey. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.
Iris schachtii is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from central Anatolia, in Turkey. It has small, thin grey-green leaves, a short stem with 1–3 branches, which are normally, covered with a green leaf with purple staining. It has 2 or more fragrant flowers in late spring, which come in shades of yellow or purple, or violet and yellow,. It has a yellow or white with yellow-tips beard. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions, but prefers regions with dry, hot summers.
Polygala virgata is a species of flowering plant in the milkwort family (Polygalaceae) native to eastern and southern Africa. Its common names include broom milkwort, milkwort, polygala and purple broom.
Hypericum decaisneanum is a species of flowering plant in the St John's wort family Hypericaceae. Named for French botanist Joseph Decaisne, it is a small perennial herb that grows mostly upright. It has thick, papery leaves and up to twenty flowers with bright yellow petals. Endemic to the Jebel al Akhdar province of Libya, H. decaisneanum is found in the cracks of limestone rocks on steep escarpments. It is a member of numerous plant communities and associations of chasmophytes, of which it is sometimes a key species. First described in 1899, the species was originally placed in section Taeniocarpium of the genus Hypericum, but more recently it has been considered a member of section Adenosepalum.
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