Polygala vulgaris
Polygalaceae
May to September
It is found throughout the country.
See the BSBI distribution map for Common Milkwort
It grows in grassland, on banks, hill-slopes and dunes.
Common Milkwort is a native, perennial, scrambling, patch-
forming, low herb, growing up to 30cm.
The small flowers (4-7mm) are purple, blue, pink or white,
in short spikes.
The flowers of Common Milkwort are a similar size to Chalk
Milkwort and larger than Heath Milkwort.
Individual flowers have a corollary tube made up of 3
joined petals; 2 upper entire petals and a lower petal
divided into lobules which are usualy white.
The corollary tube contains 8 stamens and a single style
which are difficult to see.
There are 5 coloured, petaloid sepals. Two are large and
are wing-like with extensive joined up veins.
The other 3 sepals are much smaller.
Leaves are dark green, oval to lanceolate, slightly fleshy
and ribbed.
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Next page: Common Nettle
Common Milkwort, Powerstock Common, Dorset
Blue flowerhead
Purple flowerhead
Front view of flower with lobules
Flowerhead from above - veined sepals
and coralla tubes
Close-up from above - sepals with joined veins
coralla tube with white lobules on lower petal
Blue corolla tube with light blue lobules
Close-up of corolla tube - 2 entire upper petals
and lobules of lower petal
Sepals and corolla tube of pink flower
Leaves
Leaf
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