Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Polygalaceae ⟩ Polygala vulgaris / common milkwort

Polygala vulgaris L.

common milkwort (Polygalaceae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
Very widespreadNegligible tendencyNW
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Polygala vulgaris grows in a range of grassland, heathland and dune habitats.

Ticino, Switzerland; 2008-05-09

 common milkwort / Polygala vulgaris: _Polygala vulgaris_ grows in a range of grassland, heathland and dune habitats.

The flower colour of Polygala vulgaris varies from deep blue, through pink, to nearly white.

Coombe Hill (VC24: Buckinghamshire); 2014-05-25

 common milkwort / Polygala vulgaris: The flower colour of _Polygala vulgaris_ varies from deep blue, through pink, to nearly white.

The fruit of Polygala vulgaris is a flattened capsule with an emarginate apex.

Turkdean (VC33: East Gloucestershire); 2020-07-26

 common milkwort / Polygala vulgaris: The fruit of _Polygala vulgaris_ is a flattened capsule with an emarginate apex.

Polygala vulgaris subsp. collina is a short, pale-flowering form with fewer lobes to the corolla; it grows in coastal dune systems.

Oxwich (VC41: Glamorgan); 2016-05-08

 common milkwort / Polygala vulgaris: _Polygala vulgaris_ subsp. _collina_ is a short, pale-flowering form with fewer lobes to the corolla; it grows in coastal dune systems.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne