Family: milkworts (Polygalaceae)
Flowering time: May–July
Size: 5–25 cm
Habitat: dry meadows and pastures and light forests
Common milkwort (Polygala vulgaris) is a low-growing plant with erect, sturdy shoots. The stems are leafy with alternately arranged, 1 to 2.5 cm long leaves. Its upper stem leaves are longer than the lower ones, and the basal leaf rosettes are not developed in this species. The bracts supporting the flowers are bare and as long as the pedicels, therefore the flower buds never exceed them (the inflorescence is not paniculated). Typically more than 10 blue-violet, less commonly reddish or white flowers are grouped in a dense cluster at the top of the stem. The keel petals are 6 to 9 mm long and 3.5 to 5 mm wide and on the sides surround the flower and later the fruit, which is barely as long as the keel petals. During flowering the common milkwort typically has no developed non-flowering shoots.
Common milkwort prefers rather moist, nitrogen moderately rich, acidic soils. It is fairly common throughout Slovenia.
