polygala

American  

[puh-lig-uh-luh] / pəˈlɪg ə lə /

noun

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

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polygala British  

/ pəˈlɪɡələ /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• polygalaceous adjective

Etymology

Origin of polygala

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-

Example Sentences

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

From National Geographic

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.

From Nature

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.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg