Curtiss' Milkwort (Polygala curtissii)

September 22nd, 2012. On our way home from Rabun County, we explored the Swallow Creek Wildlife Management Area in Towns County; a map of the WMA may be downloaded here. I’d never heard of this WMA which has several access roads from GA-75. The first road we tried was Cynth Creek Road. The road was in good condition until it reached the boundary of the WMA after which, it deteriorated rather quickly. We look forward to gravel roads which usually offer good wildflower hunting but we only travelled a relatively short way up this road before we decided it was prudent to turn around rather than press on.

Just outside the WMA we found a cluster of Curtiss’ Milkwort (Polygala curtissii) growing on an embankment above the road.

The location and immediate surroundings

Closer views of the plants, and…

clusters of flowers

Close up views of individual flowers.

Polygala curtissii (Curtiss’ Milkwort, Appalachian Milkwort) is native to the United States where it has been documented from Pennsylvania and Ohio south toe Mississippi and Georgia. In Georgia, it’s been documented in many counties in the Piedmont but in few counties in the southern part of the state.

Click on an image to view a larger image

 

Identification resources:

Southeastern Flora: Polygala curtissii (Curtiss’ Milkwort)

Native and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia: Polygala curtissii (Appalachian Milkwort, Curtiss' Milkwort)

 

Distribution:

United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Polygala curtissii (Curtiss’ Milkwort)