Blood Milkwort

Plant Info

Also known as:	Purple Milkwort, Field Milkwort
Scientific name:	Polygala sanguinea
Family:	Milkwort (Polygalaceae)
Life cycle:	annual
Origin:	native
Habitat:	sun; moist; fields, bogs
Bloom season:	summer
Plant height:	4 to 12 inches
USDA PLANTS database:	Minnesota county distribution map

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Detailed Information

Flower:

A cylindrical spike, ½ inch across and ½ to 1 inch long. Individual flowers are about 1/3 inch across with 5 petal-like sepals, the 2 outer sepals are large, egg-shaped and wing-like; the inner 3 are tiny and barely noticable. 3 small petals form a narrow tube.

From the outside, the wing-like sepals resemble scales. In the flower center are 8 yellow-tipped stamen. The color ranges from purple to rose pink to greenish white. One plant may have several clusters.

Leaves and stem:

Leaves are up to 1½ inches long and very narrow, with pointed tips and little or no leaf stem. There is a prominent vein down the center. The main stem is angular; the leaves and stem are hairless.

More photos

• full size plant, about 10 inches tall

More purple wildflowers. Photos taken at Pioneer Park, Blaine, MN, July 2007

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Ramsey County, or have any other comments about it?

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Please: Do not ask about controlling invasive species, are plants edible, where to buy seed or other gardening questions. I am not a horticulturist or botanist, just an enthusiastic hobbyist so I probably don't know the answer. Please check the links page for additional resources. -thanks much

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