polygala

[puh-lig-uh-luh]

noun

1. any plant of the genus Polygala, comprising the milkworts.

polygala

/ pəˈlɪɡələ /

noun

1. any herbaceous plant or small shrub of the polygalaceous genus Polygala See also milkwort

Other Word Forms

• polygalaceous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of polygala¹

1570–80; < New Latin, genus name, special use of Latin polygala, for Greek polýgalon milkwort, literally, something very milky, equivalent to poly- poly- + -galon, derivative of gála milk; galacto-

Word History and Origins

Origin of polygala¹

C18: New Latin, from Greek polugalon, from _poly- + gala milk

Example Sentences

A teeny green perennial herb called Polygala smallii, or tiny polygala, poked out from beneath my hiking boot.

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This has revealed that citrus trees and grape vines are immune to the pathogen, but that it can infest a large number of local species such as lavender, oleander and polygala.

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This Medicine, which is termed in Latin, the Polygala Virginiana, is certainly rather of a saponaceous attenuating Quality, and betrays not any Marks of Acidity, being rather moderately acrid.

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It has the delicacy of texture and form characteristic of many of our native spring blooms, Hepatica, Anemone, Spring Beauty, Polygala.

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Senega, sen′ē-ga, n. the seneca snakeroot, the dried root of Polygala Senega, good for snake-bites.

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