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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. | |||||||||
| FRINGED MILKWORT | |||||||||
| LATIN NAME: Polygala paucifolia | |||||||||
| WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? | |||||||||
| Fringed milkwort is a low growing plant that grows up to 20 cm tall. The leaves are alternate, with the smaller leaves near the base. The upper leaves are 1 to 3 cm long and oval in shape. There are three or four rose-purple or pink flowers. The flowers are irregular and large. The central petal is boat-shaped and fringed. The fruit is a capsule. | |||||||||
| WHERE DOES IT GROW? | |||||||||
| Fringed milkwort grows in moist open woods and fens. | |||||||||
| WHERE IS IT FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN? | |||||||||
| This plant is found in central Saskatchewan in the Boreal Transition, Mid-Boreal Upland, and Mid-Boreal Lowland ecoregions. | |||||||||
| WHY IS IT RARE? | |||||||||
| Fringed milkwort is vulnerable in Saskatchewan even though it is quite common in the central part of the province. No threats are known or anticipated for this species at the present time. | |||||||||
| HOW TO IDENTIFY FRINGED MILKWORT | |||||||||
| * Are the leaves all alternate, with smaller leaves
at the bottom and larger leaves towards the top? * Are the flowers pink or rose purple? * Is the central petal boat-shaped and fringed? * Did you find in central Saskatchewan? | |||||||||
| If you answered yes to all of these questions, you may have found fringed milkwort! | |||||||||
