Asemeia grandiflora (Walter) Small

Showy Milkwort

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Showy Milkwort is a native short-lived perennial in the Milkwort family (Polygalaceae). It is native to the southern half of Alabama. Showy Milkwort grows in dry, often sandy soil in full to partial sun. It can be found in open woods, on roadsides and roadside banks, in meadows and prairies, in cemeteries, and in lawns. It is a perennial with a tap root. Several stems usually arise from the same root crown. The stems are 8-12 inches in height, green in color, and pubescent. The leaves are alternate, oblanceolate to elliptic in outline, with entire margins. The leaves are pubescent on the veins on the lower surface. Flowers are produced in terminal racemes. Usually there is a range from unopened buds to fully opened flowers, to young fruit present at any one time. There are 5 sepals. Three are small and two are large, pink-purple in color (often with green veins), and petal like. The three petals are united forming a tube. The corolla (united petals) is shorter than the petal like sepals, and not fringed at the apex. The fruit is a capsule enclosed by the two large sepals. The seed are black with a 3-lobed aril. This species can be found in some older wildflower guides under the name of Polygala violacea Aublet, or Polygala grandiflora Walter.--A. Diamond

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Native

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