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Species Image Gallery (opens in a new window) |
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| THE MILKWORT FAMILY | |||||||||
| The milkworts are found around the world, except for New Zealand and the Arctic. These plants are erect herbs. The leaves are alternate or whorled and lack stipules at the base. The leaves are simple with entire margins. The flowers are in linear, unbranched clusters at the top of the stem. The flowers are irregularly shaped and have white to pink or purple petals. The fruit is a capsule that splits lengthwise. | |||||||||
| WHITE MILKWORT | |||||||||
| LATIN NAME: Polygala alba | |||||||||
| WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? | |||||||||
| White milkwort grows as tall as 40 cm. The stems are erect and there may be several from a common base. The leaves are arranged alternately on the stem and are 5 to 25 mm long and linear in shape. The flowers are in linear, unbranched clusters and are white in colour. There are five sepals, two of which are large and petal-like. There are three fused petals; the central petal is boat-shaped and fringed. Each flower has eight stamens. The fruit is a capsule. | |||||||||
| WHERE DOES IT GROW? | |||||||||
| White milkwort grows on eroded or stony grassland slopes. | |||||||||
| WHERE IS IT FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN? | |||||||||
| This plant is found in southern Saskatchewan in the Mixed Grassland and Moist Mixed Grassland ecoregions. | |||||||||
| WHY IS IT RARE? | |||||||||
| White milkwort is vulnerable in Saskatchewan even though it is quite common in the southeastern part of the province. Most local populations are small and possible threats have been identified for this species. | |||||||||
| HOW TO IDENTIFY WHITE MILKWORT | |||||||||
| * Are the leaves all alternate? * Are the leaves linear and up to 2.5 cm long? * Are the flowers small and white? * Did you find in southern Saskatchewan? | |||||||||
| If you answered yes to all of these questions, you may have found white milkwort! | |||||||||
