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Polygala amara

Common name:	Bitter Milkwort	Family:	Polygalaceae
Author:	L.	Botanical references:	17, 200
Synonyms:	Polygala uliginosa (Rchb.), Polygala austriaca (Crantz.), Polygala amarella (Crantz.)
Known Hazards:	Although no specific mention has been seen for this species, at least one member of this genus is said to be poisonous in large quantities.
Range:	Europe, including Britain, south and east from Norway.
Habitat:	Grassland and damp mountain pastures, especially on chalk and limestone[9, 17].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	0	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	1

Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Aci Sutotu [E], Dwarf Milwort [L],
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	amara = bitter
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Polygalales. Milkwort family
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	Germany Nd Turkey

Physical Characteristics

Perennial growing to 0.15m. It is hardy to zone 6. It is in flower from June to August. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. We rate it 0/5 for edibility and 1/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soil. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Meadow.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Bitter Diaphoretic Diuretic Emollient Expectorant Galactogogue.

The herb is bitter, diaphoretic, diuretic, emollient, mildly expectorant, galactogogue[9, 21]. An infusion is used to treat stomach upsets, bladder and kidney disorders etc[9]. The plant is harvested as it comes into flower and dried for later use[9].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

Prefers a moderately fertile moisture-retentive well-drained soil, succeeding in full sun if the soil remains moist throughout the growing season, otherwise it is best in semi-shade[200]. Dislikes shade according to another report.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring or autumn in a cold frame[214]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Division.
Cuttings of young shoots in a frame in late spring[1].

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for Polygala amarella (a possible synonym).

[H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database

References for the family Polygalaceae.

To be included in the Flora of China.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[9] Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981 ISBN 0-600-37216-2
Covers plants in Europe. a drawing of each plant, quite a bit of interesting information.

[17] Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.

[21] Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Lots of information tightly crammed into a fairly small book.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[214] Matthews. V. The New Plantsman. Volume 1, 1994. Royal Horticultural Society 1994 ISBN 1352-4186
A quarterly magazine, it has articles on Himalayacalamus hookerianus, hardy Euphorbias and an excellent article on Hippophae spp.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
Website: www.pfaf.org Phone: 0845 458 4719/_44(0) 1208 872963

This page (UK) http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Polygala+amara
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