Polygala incarnata

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Polygala incarnata
Polygala incarnata NRCS.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Polygalaceae
Genus: Polygala
Species:
P. incarnata
Binomial name
Polygala incarnata
L.
Synonyms [1]
  • Galypola incarnata (L.) Nieuwl.
  • Polygala microptera A.W.Benn.

Polygala incarnata, commonly known as procession flower or pink milkwort, is a species of annual flower found in North America. [2]

Contents

Description

Polygala incarnata may reach a height of up to 2 ft (60 cm). [3] The leaves are whorled or alternately arranged and are linear in shape. They range in length between 5 and 17 mm (0.20 and 0.67 in). [4]

Flowers occur in spikes or racemes, with small petals that are pink in color. The corolla tube is 5 to 6.5 mm (0.20 to 0.26 in) in length and prominently fringed. The seeds are black and range in length from 1 to 1.7 mm (0.04 to 0.07 in). [4]

P. incarnata flowers from spring into the late summer. [5]

Distribution and habitat

This species may be found throughout the eastern half of the United States into Ontario, Canada. [6] Its range within the United States stretches from New York south to Florida and westward to Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. [3] P. incarnata is also found in Mexico and Central America, as far south as Nicaragua. [5]

Within its range, P. incarnata can be found in habitat types such as prairies, woodlands, pine savannas, and glades. [3] [7] It does best in dry, sandy soils with high levels of sun. [3]

References

  1. "Polygala incarnata L." World Flora Online . Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  2. Weakley, Alan S. (October 20, 2020). Flora of the Southeastern united States. Chapel Hill, North Carolina: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin". www.wildflower.org. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  4. 1 2 Radford, Albert E.; Ahles, Harry E.; Bell, C. Ritchie (December 21, 1968). Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. The University of North Carolina Press. ISBN   9780807810873.
  5. 1 2 "Polygala incarnata in Flora of North America @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  6. "USDA Plants Database". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  7. "Senega incarnata (Pink Milkwort) - FSUS". fsus.ncbg.unc.edu. Retrieved 2025-10-02.