Volume 7 > Part 3 > Year 2001 > Page 508 > Polygalaceae > Polygala

7. Polygala japonica Houtt.wfo-0000488758

Handl. pl.-kruidk. 10: 89, t. 62, fig. 1. 1779; Chodat, Monog. 2: 353. 1893; Gagnep. in Fl. Gén. I.-C. 1: 255. 1909; Gagnep., Fl. Gén. I.-C., Suppl. 1: 233. 1939; Adema, Blumea 14: 263, fig. 8. 1966; C.Y.Wu, Fl. Yunnan. 3: 281, fig. 80, 1-8. 1983; Meijden in Fl. Mal. I, 10: 472, fig. 6. 1988. Fig. 50.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Tap-rooted shrub to 15 cm, strongly branched from base. Stems with a dense indumentum of short, curled hairs. Leaves elliptic or oblong towards apex, ovate or orbicular at base, apex acute or rounded, mucronate or shortly apiculate, base cuneate or obtuse, margin inrolled, secondary and sometimes tertiary venation prominent on upper surface, sparse indumentum of minute, curved hairs on both surfaces, glaucous below, 0.6–2.5 by 0.3–1.6 mm; petiole densely hairy, ca 0.5 mm in basal leaves, 1.0 mm in upper leaves. Inflorescence terminal or supra-axillary, unbranched, with a dense indumentum, 8–15 flowers, 1–3 cm; bracts soon caducous, ovate, ciliate, hairy, 0.7–0.5 mm. Flowers pink, violet or purple, 4–5.5 mm; pedicel 1–3 mm. Outer sepals subequal, ciliate, hairy, the two lower sepals oblong to very narrowly ovate, 1.9–2.8 mm, the upper sepal slightly boat-shaped, 2.0–2.7 mm. Alae ovate, obovate or oblong-elliptic, apex rounded, mucronate, glabrous or ciliate, 4–5 mm. Upper petals glabrous to very hairy in lower half, 3.5–5 mm, the free parts oblong, narrow, 1.9–3 mm. Keel slightly auriculate, 4.8–5.5 mm; appendage finely divided, sometimes rather bushy, 0.8–1.8 mm. Stamens 3.2–4.2 mm, completely connate or almost so, rarely free for up to 1 mm. Disk absent. Ovary glabrous, oblong or obovate, 0.8–1.2 by 0.6 mm; style almost straight, 2–2.4 mm; the stigmas knob-like, one apical, the other lateral, 0.5–1 mm apart. Capsule with persistent calyx, more or less orbicular, emarginate, glabrous, 4.5–6 by 4.5–6 mm, wing ribbed, up to 1.4 mm. Seeds ovoid, more or less densely hairy, 3–3.6 by 1.6–1.8 mm; aril with three very narrow unequal lobes, the two shorter 2.3–2.5 mm, the longer 2.6–3.0 mm.

Thailand : NORTHERN: Smiles s.n. (21–3–1893), path M. Ngan to M. Mo/U. Uo (?) -K).

Distribution : NE India to eastern Siberia, Laos, Vietnam, Korea, Japan (type), the Philippines, New Guinea and E Australia.

Ecology : In grasslands and along roads, at 1,200–2,600 m alt. The perennial rootstock allows the plant to survive minor fires.

Notes: Closely related to Polygala sibirica L. which is found from central Europe to central China and has longer, narrower leaves, an orbicular, ciliate ovary, stigmatic lobes closer together, free part of filaments longer and an oblong capsule with a narrower wing.