Polygala umbonata

Description

Herbs annual,erect,(10-)15-20 cm tall.Stems terete,longitudinally angular,glabrous,branching apically;branchlets spreading,slender.Petiole ca.1 cm;leaf blade abaxially glaucescent,adaxially green,ovate or elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate,3-4 × 1.5-2 cm,papery,abaxially glabrous,adaxially sparsely white setose or along margin densely minutely setose,midvein raised abaxially,impressed adaxially,lateral veins 5 or 6 pairs,anastomosing near margin,base cuneate,decurrent,apex acuminate.Racemes terminal or axillary,1-4 cm.Pedicel 0.5-1 mm,slender;bracts 3,caducous,subulate,unequal.Sepals 5,caducous;outer sepals 3,ovate,ca.1.5 mm;inner sepals 2,petaloid,elliptic,3-3.5 mm,base unguiculate,apex rounded.Petals 3,connate in lower 1/2,yellow;lateral petals rectangular-oblong,longer than keel;keel with apex broadly retuse,with appendage of 2 lobes each with 2 points.Stamens 8;filaments lower 2/3 united,forming an open staminal sheath;anthers ovoid.Ovary ellipsoidal,ca.1 mm,ca.0.5 mm in diam.;style broadening from base toward apex but then narrowing at apex,curved,apex obliquely funnelform.Capsule suborbicular,ca.3 mm in diam.,winged.Seeds black,elliptic,ca.1.2 mm,ca.1 mm in diam.,tuberculate,sparsely white pilose,strophiole 2-lobed,decurrent,other end of seed with oblong slightly curved shiny black appendage ca.2/3 as long as seed.Fl.and fr.Oct-Nov.