Polygala paucifolia
 
Fringed Milkwort

Crest Side

11.5 km North of Highway #3 on Fir River Road, West of Hudson Bay
02-June-2015

The corolla is composed of two lateral petals and one lower median petal partially united in a tube.  The median petal is terminated with a fringed crest.

Paucifolia: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species. 

plants perennial; NOT [plants annual]

leaves alternate; NOT [leaves whorled]

flowers 1-4; NOT [flowers many]

flowers showy, rose-purple; NOT [flowers white]

 

Polygalaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora leading to this family.  One of the answers requires "calyx regular".  In fact, the calyx is highly irregular.  That item has been removed from the answers below. 

herbs; NOT [shrubs or trees]

plants terrestrial or semi-aquatic; NOT [plants aquatic, leaves submerged or floating]

plants not with colored milky juice

plants with more than one normal leaf

some or all leaves alternate; NOT [leaves opposite, whorled, or basal]

leaves without stipules, or having glands; NOT [leaves with stipules]

flowers with two floral rings

sepals 5, two large, colored and petal-like; NOT [sepals 2]

flowers with each petal distinct from the others

corolla irregular in shape; NOT [corolla regular in shape]

petals 3; NOT [petals 4]

stamens 10 or fewer; NOT [stamens usually more than 10]

ovary superior; NOT [ovary inferior]

carpels 1 or 2; NOT [carpels 3-5]