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Milkwort family
Polygalaceae
ヒメハギ科
A family of about 21 genera and 1,000 species including Polygala and Securidaca, widely distributed from the tropics to temperate regions. Polygala japonica grows in grasslands in Japan. The flowers resemble legume papilionaceous flowers but are phylogenetically unrelated (convergent evolution).
Key Characteristics
- ●Flowers resemble legume papilionaceous flowers (convergent evolution) but structurally different
- ●Two inner sepals of five are large and petaloid
- ●Petals 3 (the lower one keel-shaped)
- ●Diverse in habit from herbs to shrubs to trees
- ●Capsules or samaras
Morphological Traits
A family may include species with different trait values — multiple values indicate the range within the family.
Leaf arrangement
Alternate / Opposite / Whorled
Leaf type
Simple
Venation
Pinnate
Leaf margin
Entire
Growth form
Shrub / Tree / Vine / Herb
Evergreen/Deciduous
Deciduous
Leaf dissection
Undivided
Stipules
Present / Absent
Aromatic
Aromatic
Flower symmetry
Zygomorphic
Petal count
Many
Petal fusion
Free / Fused
Ovary position
Superior
Stamen count
5
Plant sex
Hermaphrodite
Phylogenetic Position
Angiosperms > Eudicots > Core eudicots > Rosids > Malpighiales > Polygalaceae
Divergence Era
Late Cretaceous to Paleogene (approx. 70 million years ago)
Representative Genera
Related Evolution Events
- ・Convergent evolution toward legume-like papilionaceous flowers for pollinator attraction
- ・Widespread diversification centered in the tropics
Plants in Milkwort family on this site
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