Polygala senega

           
Seneca Root

Flower, Side A
Moosomin Regional Park
25-June-2005

Note that petal A is folded widthwise, obscuring the stamens and pistil from view. There is a fringed crest along the fold line.

The key in Budd's Flora leading to family Polygalaceae is unsatisfactory.  It requires "calyx regular", whereas the calyx of this species is highly irregular.  It also requires "each petal distinct from the others", whereas all the petals of this species are connected to each other.

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Senega: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species.  
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plants perennial; NOT annual

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leaves alternate; NOT whorled

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leaves lanceolate to ovate; NOT [linear or linear-oblanceolate]

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inflorescence oblong, cylindric; NOT conic

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flowers many; NOT 1-4

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flowers white; NOT [showy, rose purple]

 
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Polygalaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora leading to this family.
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herbs; NOT shrubs, NOT trees

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

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plants NOT with colored milky juice

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plants with more than one normal leaf

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

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leaves without stipules, or having glands

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flowers with two floral rings, and with each petal distinct from the others

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calyx regular

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

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corolla irregular in shape

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petals 3; NOT 4

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stamens 10 or fewer

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ovary superior

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carpels 1 or 2; NOT 3-5