Polygala verticillata L.

Annual herb up to 30 cm high, not or sparingly branched. Stems glabrous. Lvs mostly in whorls of 2–5 (upper lvs scattered, alternate), glabrous, narrowly elliptic to linear, acute to acuminate, entire, sessile, 5–25 mm long. Fls numerous in dense, simple, terminal racemes; perianth coloured purple toward apex; pedicels 0.5–1 mm long; bracts triangular, c. 0.5 mm long, deciduous; 3 outer sepals ovate-triangular, c. 1 mm long; wings petaloid, elliptic to ovate, 1.5–2 mm long, > corolla; outer petals entire, ± = keel; keel fimbriate toward apex. Capsule glabrous but often scaly, c. 1.5 mm long and not winged, c. 3/4 length of persistent calyx wings; seed hairy, dark brown, narrow-obovate-ellipsoid, c. 1 mm long; strophiole 2-lobed.

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

Flowering: Feb.–Apr.