Polygala/ Purple Milkwort

Polygala is a very rare (S2) wildflower found only in a few places in New Brunswick.  We were lucky to find it on a botany field trip to Grand Lake near Fredericton in late August.  It was found in open woods near the lake shore.  It is also found in old burn sites, roadsides, clearings and meadows.  It grows 15 to 38 cm high.  The leaves are alternate and narrowly elliptic.  The flower is a dense cylinder and a pinkish to purple colour.