Senega officinalis
 
Senega Snakeroot

Flower Dissected

Ruby Lake Recreation Site, 15 km North of Hudson Bay
11-July-2024

All the sepals have been removed from this specimen. There are two upper lateral petals which overlap with each other, and one lower petal.  The lower petal contains a raised surface known as the landing platform.  There is a crest along the margin of the landing platform and the crest contains several finger-like projections call fimbrillae.

Officinalis: This species used to be known as Polygala senega.  The following are answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species, assuming it was part of genus Polygala.  Thus these questions distinguish this species from other species in the original Polygala.
plants perennial; NOT [plants annual]
leaves alternate; NOT [leaves whorled]
leaves lanceolate to ovate; NOT [leaves linear or linear-oblanceolate]
inflorescence oblong, cylindrical; NOT [inflorescence conic]
flowers many; NOT [flowers 1-4]
flowers white; NOT [flowers rose-purple]