Polygala polygama

Distribution Map: Based on vouchered plant specimens from wild populations. Cultivated occurrences are not mapped. View county names by placing the cursor over the map.

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Family:	POLYGALACEAE
Species:	Polygala polygama Walter
Common Name:	RACEMED MILKWORT
Status:	Native, FACU (NWPL)
Specimen:	View details of USF Herbarium specimens

** Not applicable or data not available.

Classification

Division
Class
Sub Class
Order	FABALES
Family	POLYGALACEAE
Genus	Polygala
Species	Polygala polygama Walter - RACEMED MILKWORT

Citation

Citation	POLYGALA POLYGAMA Walter, Fl. Carol. 179. 1788.
Basionym:	**
Type:	SOUTH CAROLINA: Richland Co.: Columbia, 19 May 1934, Palmer 42407 (neotype: GH). Neotypified by D. B. Ward, J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas 2: 482. 2008.

** Not applicable or data not available.

Source

County	Herbaria	Literature Citation (If Applicable)
Alachua	FLAS
Brevard	USF
Broward	NY
Citrus	USF
Collier	FLAS
Escambia	USF
Flagler	FLAS
Gadsden	FLAS
Glades	USF
Highlands	USF
Indian River	FLAS
Jackson	USF
Jefferson	USF
Lafayette	FLAS
Lee	USF
Leon	FTG
Levy	FLAS
Liberty	FSU
Marion	FLAS
Miami-Dade	FLAS
Nassau	FTG
Okaloosa	USF
Orange	USF
Pasco	USF
Polk	FLAS
Santa Rosa	USF
Sarasota	SEL
St. Johns	FTG
Volusia	USF
Walton	USF

Synonyms

– Denotes synonyms that are applicable to the state. Show these synonyms only

Synonym	Full Citation	Basionym	Type
Anthallogea polygama	Anthallogea polygama (Walter) Rafinesque ex Nieuwland, Amer. Midl. Naturalist 3: 180. 1914.	BASIONYM: Polygala polygama Walter 1788.
Polygala aborigina	Polygala aborigina Small, Torreya 26: 92. 1926.		TYPE: FLORIDA: Volusia Co.: Turtle Mound, 24 May 1926, Small et al. s.n. (holotype: NY; isotypes: NY 2 shts).
Polygala polygama forma albiflora	Polygala polygama Walter, forma albiflora House, Bull. New York State Mus. 243/244: 45. 1923.		TYPE: NEW YORK: Oneida Co.: N of New London,
Polygala polygama forma pallida	Polygala polygama Walter, forma pallida Britton ex Hollick, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 18: 256. 1891.		TYPE: NEW YORK: Suffolk Co.: Montauk Point, Long Island, 5 Jul 1890, Hollick s.n. holotype: NY).
Polygala polygama var. abortiva	Polygala polygama Walter, var. abortiva Chodat, Mém. Soc. Phys. Gèneve 31(2(2)): 280. 1893.
Polygala polygama var. macrospora	Polygala polygama Walter, var. macrospora Chodat, Mém. Soc. Phys. Gèneve 31(2(2)): 280. 1893.
Polygala polygama var. obtusata	Polygala polygama Walter, var. obtusata Chodat, Mém. Soc. Phys. Gèneve 31(2(2)): 280. 1893.
Polygala polygama var. ramulosa	Polygala polygama Walter, var. ramulosa Farwell, Amer. Midl. Naturalist 11: 63. 1928.		TYPE: MICHIGAN: St. Clair Co.: Algonac, 10 Aug 1927, Farwell 8068 (lectotype: BLH; isolectotype: MICH). Lectotypified by McVaugh et al., Cranbrook Inst. Sci. Bull. 34: 57. 1953.
Polygala rubella	Polygala rubella Willdenow, Sp. Pl. 3: 875. 1803.		TYPE: PENNSYLVANIA:
Polygala rugosa	Polygala rugosa Rafinesque, New Fl. 4: 89. 1838 ("1836").

Specimens

Country	State	County	Date	Specimen	Notes
USA	Florida	Okaloosa Co.	17 May 1958	R. K. Godfrey 56666
USA	Florida	Brevard Co.	May 1928	J. K. Small s.n.
USA	Florida	Volusia Co.	24 Mar 1918	B. Ames s.n.
USA	Florida	Jefferson Co.	27 Apr 1990	S. L. Orzell 13184
USA	Florida	Escambia Co.	21 May 1981	G. Wilhelm 9030
USA	Florida	Okaloosa Co.	01 May 1982	R. P. Wunderlin 9364
USA	Florida	Brevard Co.	Jun 1928	J. K. Small s.n.
USA	Florida	Volusia Co.	07 Apr 2007	J. M. Kunzer 2106
USA	Florida	Volusia Co.	13 Mar 2007	J. M. Kunzer 2079
USA	Florida	Brevard Co.	May 1928	J. K. Small s.n.
USA	Florida	Citrus Co.	19 Mar 1972	P. Genelle 1163
USA	Florida	Highlands Co.	28 Feb 1945	L. J. Brass 14703
USA	Florida	Brevard Co.	4-23 Apr 2012	M. Wielenga s.n.
USA	Florida	Pasco Co.	15 Mar 1970	P. Genelle 132
USA	Florida	Walton Co.	24 Jun 1981	G. Wilhelm 9202
USA	Florida	Glades Co.	02 Apr 1960	BTY [Botany] 421 3-3
USA	Florida	Orange Co.	31 Mar 1982	R. P. Wunderlin 9214
USA	Florida	Walton Co.	09 May 1993	S. L. Orzell 21786
USA	Florida	Pasco Co.	18 Feb 2002	C. vanHoek WB193
USA	Florida	Lee Co.	26 Apr 2006	S. W. Woodmansee 1851
USA	Florida	Escambia Co.	22 Apr 1921	J. K. Small s.n.
USA	Florida	Highlands Co.	08 May 1964	L. J. Brass 33221
USA	Florida	Santa Rosa Co.	15 Jun 1980	G. Wilhelm 7466
USA	Florida	Brevard Co.	29 Jul 1974	J. E. Poppleton s.n.
USA	Florida	Orange Co.	18 Mar 1999	R. Mejeur 746
USA	Georgia	Fulton Co.	15 May 1991	R. Mears s.n.
USA	Louisiana	Union Par.	10 May 1969	R. D. Thomas 13477
USA	Louisiana	Vernon Par.	29 Apr 1955	G. R. Cooley 4007a
USA	South Carolina	Oconee Co.	13 May 1993	S. R. Hill 25013
USA	Georgia	Columbia Co.	19 May 2016	J. B. Nelson 35265
USA	Georgia	Oconee Co.	05 May 1992	J. E. Seward 1117
USA	Georgia	Harris Co.	18 May 1971	S. B. Jones 20747
USA	South Carolina	Sumter Co.	09 May 1975	P. Brewington 75212
USA	North Carolina	Transylvania Co.	22 May 1957	O. M. Freeman 57298
USA	South Carolina	Oconee Co.	10 Jun 1987	S. R. Hill 18077
USA	Louisiana	Vernon Par.	29 Apr 1955	G. R. Cooley 4049
USA	North Carolina	Macon Co.	29 Jun 1954	W. Botts 2265
USA	Georgia	Murray Co.	s.d.	M. H. Berry s.n.	2 Jun 1944
USA	Florida	Jackson Co.	04 May 1931	M. Mulvania 29
USA	Florida	Escambia Co.	02 May 2018	J. R. Burkhalter 26685
USA	Rhode Island	Plymouth Co.	29 Jun 1945	C. H. Knowlton s.n.
USA	Texas	Brazos Co.	04 Apr 1946	H. B. Parks, Jr. s.n.
USA	Illinois	Lee Co.		O. Everett s.n.
USA	Michigan	Clinton Co.	09 Sep 1955	R. E. Perdue 2036
USA	Illinois	Ogle Co.	15 Jun 2007	P. D. Sorensen 07-34
USA	Massachusetts	Barnstable Co.	03 Jul 1900	C. I. Cheney s.n.
USA	Maine	Androscoggin Co.	07 Jul 1915	R. C. Bean 15368
USA	North Carolina	Guilford Co.	24 May 2018	M. Garland 1232

Listed Status: Florida

Listed Status:	(Florida):Source - Plants in the Preservation of Native Flora of Florida Act. Chapter 5B-40, Florida Administrative Code. 1998, amended.
Endangered:	A species of plants native to the state that are in imminent danger of extinction within the state, the survival of which is unlikely if the causes of a decline in the number of plants continue, and includes all species determined to be endangered or threatened pursuant to the Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.
Threatened:	Listed as Threatened Plants in the Preservation of Native Flora of Florida Act. Defined as species of plants native to the state that are in rapid decline in the number of plants within the state, but which have not so decreased in such number as to cause them to be endangered.

Listed Status: US

Listed Status: US	(U.S.) Source - List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants under the provisions of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.
Endangered:	Any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
Threatened:	Any species which is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.

WAP: Wetland AssessmentProcedure

Wetland Assessment Procedure (WAP): Source - Southwest Florida Water Management District, Wetland Assessment Procedure Instruction Manual for Isolated Wetlands (March 2005).

AD:	Adaptive Species. Plant species designated as FAC or Upland by DEP, but commonly seen in the transition zone in limited numbers.
D:	Deep Species. Plant species commonly found in the deep zone, and designated either FAC or OBL by DEP.
OD:	Outer Deep Species. Plant species commonly found in the outer deep zone, and designated either FACW or OBL by DEP.
T:	Transition Species. Plant species commonly found in the transition zone, and designated either FACW or OBL by DEP.
U:	Upland Species. Plant species that are not expected to be seen in wetlands.

ANY - WAP critieria is not taken into consideration
Yes - Show results with WAP designations
No - Show results without WAP designations

FISC: Florida Invasive Species Council

FISC:

Source - Florida Invasive Species Council's 2017 List of Florida's Most Invasive Species

Category I - Species that are invading and disrupting native plant communities in Florida. This definition does not rely on the economic severity or geographic range of the problem, but on the documented ecological damage caused.

Category II - Species that have shown a potential to disrupt native plant communities. These species may become ranked as Category I, but have not yet demonstrated disruption of natural Florida communities.

DEP: Department of Environmental Protection

Wetland Status, Department of Environmental Regulation (DEP): Source - Delineation of the Landward Extent of Wetlands and Surface Waters, Chapter 62-340, Florida Administrative Code. 1994.

OBL:	Obligate wetland. Occurs almost always under natural conditions in wetlands.
FACW:	Facultative Wetland. Usually occurs in wetlands, but occasionally found in non-wetlands
FAC:	Facultative. equally likely to occur in wetlands or non-wetlands.

NWPL: National Wetland Plant List

National Wetland Plant List (NWPL): Source - Lichvar, R.W., M. Butterwick, N.C. Melvin, and W.N. Kirchner. 2014. The National Wetland Plant List: 2014 Update of Wetland Ratings. Phytoneuron 2014-41: 1-42.

OBL:	Obligate Wetland. Occurs almost always (estimated probability 99%) under natural conditions in wetlands.
FACW:	Facultative Wetland. Usually occurs in wetlands (estimated probability 67%-99%), but occasionally found in non-wetlands.
FAC:	Facultative. Equally likely to occur in wetlands or non-wetlands (estimated probability 34%-66%).
FACU:	Facultative Upland. Usually occurs in non-wetlands (estimated probability 67%-99%), but occasionally found in wetlands (estimated probability 1%-33%).
UPL:	Obligate Upland. Occurs in wetlands in another region, but occurs almost always (estimated probability 99%) under natural conditions in non-wetlands in the regions specified.

Persisting

Identifying species that appear as waifs or only periodically appear in the flora for a few seasons.

Any - Persisting critieria is not taken into consideration
Yes - Show results with a Persisting value of Y
No - Show results without Persisting value of N

Duration

Annual:	Plants that perform their entire lifecycle within a single growing season. All roots, stems, and leaves die at the end of the growing season. Over wintering seeds allow the next generation to appear.
Biennial:	A plant that is typically vegetative its first year and blooms the following season. Once it has bloomed and set seed, the plant dies. Garlic mustard is an example of a biennial.
Perennial:	These plants live for three or more seasons. Many perennials may not be mature enough to bloom during its first year. Perennial wildflowers re-grow each season from overwinter root material.

Category

Vascular:	Any of various plants that have the vascular tissues xylem and phloem. The vascular plants include all seed-bearing plants (the gymnosperms and angiosperms) and the pteridophytes (including the ferns, lycophytes, and horsetails). Also called tracheophyte.
Bryophyte:	A large group of seedless green plants including the mosses, liverworts, and hornworts. Bryophytes lack the specialized tissues xylem and phloem that circulate water and dissolved nutrients in the vascular plants. Bryophytes generally live on land but are mostly found in moist environments, for they have free-swimming sperm that require water for transport. In contrast to the vascular plants, the gametophyte (haploid) generation of bryophytes constitutes the larger plant form, while the small sporophyte (diploid) generation grows on or within the gametophyte and depends upon it for nutrition.
Lichen:	The mutualistic symbiotic association of a fungus with an alga or a cyanobacterium, or both. The fungal component of a lichen absorbs water and nutrients from the surroundings and provides a suitable environment for the alga or cyanobacterium. These live protected among the dense fungal hyphae and produce carbohydrates for the fungus by photosynthesis. Owing to this partnership, lichens can thrive in harsh environments such as mountaintops and polar regions. The more familiar lichens grow slowly as crusty patches, but lichens are found in a variety of forms, such as the tall, plantlike reindeer moss. The association between the different organisms in a lichen is so close that lichens are routinely referred to as a single organism, and scientists classify lichens using the name of the fungal component.

(Definitions from: American Heritage Science Dictionary)

Growth Habit

Intro paragraph to be provided by New York.

Vine:	DESCRIPTION TO BE PROVIDED BY NEW YORK.
Shrub:	DESCRIPTION TO BE PROVIDED BY NEW YORK.
Tree:	DESCRIPTION TO BE PROVIDED BY NEW YORK.
Et cetera:	DESCRIPTION TO BE PROVIDED BY NEW YORK.

State Rank

This numeric rank provides the relative rarity for each species based on a scale from 1 (very rare) to 5 (common). These ranks carry no legal status.

S1 - Typically 5 or fewer occurrences, very few remaining individuals, acres, or miles of stream, or some factor of its biology making it especially vulnerable in the state.
S2 - Typically 6 to 20 occurrences, few remaining individuals, acres, or miles of stream, or factors demonstrably making it very vulnerable in the state.
S3 - Typically 21 to 100 occurrences, limited acreage, or miles of stream in the state.
S4 - Apparently secure in the state.
S5 - Demonstrably secure in the state.
SE - State exotic or non-native.
SH - Historically known from the state, but not seen in the past 15 years.
SNA - Species for which a rank is not applicable. This is mainly those species which are now excluded from flora for various reasons.
SNR - Not yet ranked.
SX - Apparently extirpated from the state.

Global Rank

Each species' global rank is determined by NatureServe. These ranks carry no legal weight. The global rank reflects the species worldwide rarity.

G1 - Critically imperiled globally because of extreme rarity (5 or fewer occurrences), or very few remaining acres, or miles of stream) or especially vulnerable to extinction because of some factor of its biology.
G2 - Imperiled globally because of rarity (6 - 20 occurrences, or few remaining acres, or miles of stream) or very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range because of other factors.
G3 - Imperiled globally because of rarity (6 - 20 occurrences, or few remaining acres, or miles of stream) or very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range because of other factors.
G4 - Imperiled globally because of rarity (6 - 20 occurrences, or few remaining acres, or miles of stream) or very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range because of other factors.
G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
GH - Historically known, with the expectation that it might be rediscovered.
GNA - Species for which a rank is not applicable. NatureServe does not typically rank hybrid species.
GNR - Not yet ranked.
GX - Species believed to be extinct.

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Associated Ecological Communities

View a List of All Ecological Communities

For more information, contact: Richard Wunderlin or Bruce Hansen, Alan Franck, or Karla Alvarado

Web Development: USF Water Institute

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Citation Information:

Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2024. Atlas of Florida Plants (http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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Definition: Vouchered Specimen

A voucher specimen is a pressed and thoroughly dried plant sample deposited in a herbarium, and is intended to be a permanent record supporting research purposes. A voucher may be a record of a plant's occurrence in a particular area, or a specific example of a plant used in a scientific investigation.

Proper vouchers display all the necessary attributes for complete identification of the plant, and are to be accompanied by accurate locality, habitat, collection time, and collector data.

Only plant populations vouchered by specimens deposited in Index Herbariorum http://sweetgum.nybg.org/science/ih/ recognized herbaria are represented on this map.