Gland-leaf or purple milkwort

Polygala macradenia A. Gray, Smithsonian Contr. Knowl. 3(5): 39. 1852

Herbs or subshrubs, 0.2–2.5 dm. Stems decumbent to laxly erect, forming low, compact clumps, hairs incurved or spreading. Leaves: blade linear-oblong to oblong-lanceolate, narrowly ovate, or linear, (2–)3–9 × 0.6–1.3 mm, base rounded, apex obtuse, surfaces densely translucent-punctate from internal cavities appearing as pustular glands 0.2–0.4 mm diam., hairs incurved or spreading. Inflorescences axillary, reduced to 1 or 2(–4) flowers, 0.4–1.5 ×0.4–1.8 cm; peduncle 0–0.3(–0.5) cm; bracts ovate. Pedicels (0.5–)1–2.5 mm, pubescent. Flowers usually purple or pink, rarely whitish, 3.5–6.5 mm; sepals: upper 1 sometimes tardily deciduous to subpersistent, oblong-ovate, 1.7–2.1 mm; wings obovate, 5–5.5 × 2.5 mm, sparsely pubescent; keel 4.5 mm, pubescent. Capsules oblong to oblong-ovoid, 4–6.5 × 2.5–4 mm, densely translucent-punctate from internal cavities appearing as pustular glands 0.2–0.4 mm diam., pubescent. Seeds 4 mm; aril 1–2 mm, lobes to 1/2 length of seed. 2n = 64, 68.

Flowering early spring–late fall. Open gravelly areas, usually loess-derived (or gypsum), scrub; 500–2400 m; Ariz., Nev., N.Mex., Tex.; Mexico (Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Nuevo León, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, Sonora, Tamaulipas).