Polygala myrtifolia L.

Perennial much-branched shrub up to 2 m high. Young stems with short curly hairs, glabrous when older. Lvs all alternate, glabrous or very sparsely hairy, elliptic to obovate, obtuse or rarely slightly retuse, entire, (10)–15–30–(35) mm long; petioles 1–2 mm long. Fls clustered in short, simple, terminal racemes; perianth coloured or veined purple toward apex; pedicels 5–8 mm long; bracts suborbicular, 2–3 mm long, persistent; 3 outer sepals ovate, 5–7 mm long; wings petaloid, ovate-orbicular, c. 15–17 mm long, slightly > corolla; outer petals 2-lobed, c. ?-1/4 length of keel; keel with a fimbriate crest near apex. Capsule glabrous, c. 10 mm long with a marginal wing c. 1 mm wide, c. ⅔ length of persistent calyx wings; seeds hairy, dark brown, oblong, c. 5 mm long; strophiole 3-lobed.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Jan.–Dec.