Wisconsin Wildflowers: Fringed Polygala
Gaywings - Polygala Paucifolia
Splendor in the Grass might describe this delightful little Wisconsin wildflower, Fringed Polygala or Gaywings are commonly used names. "Fringed Polygala" is a member of the Milkwort Family. It blooms May through June. This Orchid like flower has two petals which look like wings, and three which form a tube with the delicate looking yellow or white fringe.
This low-growing Spring flower can be found in damp forests, where there isn't too much weedy growth. Its bright magenta flowers perch daintily above evergreen leaves, which is why it is sometimes called Flowering Wintergreen.
Polygala pauciflora is a low growing plant, flowering from prostrate, with underground stems and rootstocks, and pink flowers tinged with purple in the axils of clustered upper leaves. Its flowers are approximately 3/4" (2 cm) long, possessing 5 sepals, the two lateral ones wing-like and the remaining three, forming a tube with a delicate, finely-fringed yellow or pink crest.
The leaves of the fringed polygala are simple; the upper ones 3/4-1 1/2" (2-3.8 cm) long; oval, crowded at top of stem; and the lower ones smaller, almost bract-like. "Gaywings" height: 3-7" (7.5-17.5 cm).
This exquisite Orchid-like wildflower resembles a tailless, tiny airplane. It was thought that, if eaten by nursing mothers or fed to cows, Milkworts would increase milk production. Its habitat is rich, moist woods and besides being found throughout Wisconsin, fringed polygala, thrives in most eastern woodland areas ranging from eastern Canada and New England, down to the mountains of Georgia and west to Tennessee.
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