Polygaloides paucifolia

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Rosids
Cladus: Eurosids I
Ordo: Fabales

Familia: Polygalaceae
Tribus: Polygaleae
Genus: Polygaloides
Species: Polygaloides paucifolia
Name

Polygaloides paucifolia (Willd.) J.R.Abbott, J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas 5(1): 134. 2011.
Synonymy

Basionym
Polygala paucifolia Willd., Sp. Pl., ed. 4, 3(2): 880. 1802.

Homotypic
Polygala pauciflora Muhl. ex Willd., Sp. Pl., ed. 4, 3(2): 880. 1802, nom. inval. pro syn.
Triclisperma grandiflorum Raf., Specchio Sci. 1(4): 117. 1814, nom. illeg. superfl. (as Triclisperma grandiflora)
Triclisperma paucifolium (Willd.) Nieuwl., Amer. Midl. Naturalist 3(7): 181. 1914. (as Trichlisperma paucifolia)

References
Primary references

Abbott, J.R. 2011. Notes on the disintegration of Polygala (Polygalaceae) with four new genera for the flora of North America. Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas 5: 125–137. BHL JSTOR Reference page.

Links

International Plant Names Index. 2019. Polygaloides paucifolia. Published online. Accessed: 21 February 2019.
Global Biodiversity Information Facility. 2019. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset. Taxon: Polygaloides paucifolia.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Polygaloides paucifolia in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 2019-02-21.
Hassler, M. 2019. Polygaloides paucifolia. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2019. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2019 February 21. Reference page.
Tropicos.org 2019. Polygaloides paucifolia. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 21 February 2019.

Vernacular names
English: Fringed Polygala, Bird-on-the-wing, Flowering-wintergreen

Polygaloides paucifolia, synonym Polygala paucifolia,[1] known as gaywings or fringed polygala, is a perennial plant of the family Polygalaceae.

Mature plants are 3 to 6 inches tall.[2] Stems are smooth, slender and green. Leaves are clustered at the top, appearing to be whorled, but they are not. Leaflets are oblong to lanceolate—narrow at the base with a pointed tip. Leaves have an entire margin and are thin.

Flowers are pink and white, blooming in April and May.[2] It grows in rich, moist woods.[3]

The species was first described, as Polygala paucifolia, by Carl Ludwig Willdenow in 1802. In 2011, John Richard Abbott divided up part of the genus Polygala into more sharply defined genera. He placed P. paucifolia in Polygaloides as Polygaloides paucifolia.[4]
Gaywings on Mackinac Island, Michigan
References

"Polygaloides paucifolia (Willd.) J.R.Abbott". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
Carman, Jack B. (2001). Wildflowers of Tennessee. Highland Rim Press. p. 163.
"Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin". www.wildflower.org. Retrieved 2022-01-21.

Abbott, J. Richard (2011). "Notes on the disintegration of Polygala (Polygalaceae), with four new genera for the Flora of North America". Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas. 5 (1): 125–137. JSTOR 41972495.

Blanchan, Neltje (2002). Wild Flowers: An Aid to Knowledge of our Wild Flowers and their Insect Visitors. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.