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Whorled Milkwort - Polygala verticillata
Native Species
Global Rank:
G5
State Rank:
S3S4
(see State Rank Reason below)
C-value:
4
Agency Status
USFWS:
USFS:
BLM:
External Links
State Rank Reason (see State Rank above)
Polygala verticillate is fairly common in portions of eastern Montana. Plants grow in habitats that are widespread and relatively secure. Threats or factors that limit populations have not been identified. Current data on population sizes, locations, and threats to habitats are needed.
- Details on Status Ranking and Review
Range Extent
ScoreF - 20,000-200,000 sq km (~8,000-80,000 sq mi)
Comment64,487 square kilometers.
Area of Occupancy
ScoreD - 6-25 4-km2 grid cells
CommentMontana can be divided into 30,390 4x4 square kilometer cells. For this species plant observations occur in 22 of these 4x4 square kilometer cells.
Number of Populations
ScoreC - 21 - 80
Comment30 observations.
Environmental Specificity
ScoreC - Moderate. Generalist or community with some key requirements scarce
General Description
PLANTS: Annual plants that grow from a taproot. Stems are erect but branched, without hairs (glabrous), and 5–20 cm tall. Source: Lesica et al. 2012
LEAVES: Arranged in whorls or alternately on the stem. Leaf blades are simple with entire margin, linear to linear-oblanceolate in shape, without stipules, and 1–2 cm long. Source: Lesica et al. 2012
INFLORESCENCE: Spike-like racemes that come from the axils of the leaves. Flowers are white to pink with male and female organs (perfect), irregular, and hypogynous. Sepals are 5 of which 2 are large and petal like while 3 are small. Petals are 3 and united below. Wing petals are 1–2 mm long. Lower petal is keel-shaped, 1–1.5 mm long with 1 to 2 lobes on each side. Stamens: 8. Ovary with a 2-lobed style. Fruit is a capsule. Source: Lesica et al. 2012
Diagnostic Characteristics
The flowers of
Polygala can resemble papilionaceous flowers which are characteristic for members of the Pea (Fabaceae) Family. Montana has 2
Polygala species:
Whorled Milkwort -
Polygala verticillata, native and desirable
*Life Form: Annual with a taproot.
*Leaves: Lower ones are whorled.
White Milkwort -
Polygala alba, native and desirable
*Life Form: Perennial with a branched caudex.
*Leaves: Lower ones are alternate.
Species Range
Montana Range
Range Descriptions
Native
Range Comments
Manitoba in Canada to Massachusetts south to Utah, Texas, and Florida in the U.S. (Lesica et al. 2012).
Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database
Number of Observations: 31
(Click on the following maps and charts to see full sized version)
Map Help and Descriptions
Relative Density
Recency
(Observations spanning multiple months or years are excluded from time charts)
Habitat
In grasslands in the plains zone of Montana (Lesica et al. 2012).
Reproductive Characteristics
Plants reproduce by seed.
FRUITS
Capsule: ellipsoid, 2-celled (locules), and about 2 mm long (Lesica et al. 2012). Seeds: 1 per cell and enclosed in an aril.
Stewardship Responsibility
References
- Literature Cited AboveLegend:
View Online Publication- Lesica, P., M.T. Lavin, and P.F. Stickney. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. Fort Worth, TX: BRIT Press. viii + 771 p.
- Additional ReferencesLegend: View Online Publication
Do you know of a citation we're missing?
DuBois, K.L. 1979. An inventory of the avifauna in the Long Pines of Southeastern Montana. M.Sc. Thesis. Bozeman, MT: Montana State University. 113 p.- Lesica, P., M.T. Lavin, and P.F. Stickney. 2022. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants, Second Edition. Fort Worth, TX: BRIT Press. viii + 779 p.
- Seipel, T.F. 2006. Plant species diversity in the sagebrush steppe of Montana. M.Sc. Thesis. Bozeman, MT: Montana State University. 87 p.
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