Polygala senega L.
Seneca-snakeroot (Seneca snakeroot)
Polygalaceae (Milkwort family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Seneca-snakeroot (Seneca snakeroot)
Polygalaceae (Milkwort family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Species Information
General:
Perennial herb from a thick stembase and stout taproot; stems ascending to erect, several, usually simple, minutely hairy, 10-50 cm tall.
Leaves:
Basal leaves lacking; stem leaves lanceolate to egg-shaped, alternate, lowest ones reduced to scales, 1-3 cm long, margins chaffy and toothed.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of dense, terminal, oblong racemes; corollas greenish-white, 4-5 mm wide; sepals winged, the wings roundish egg-shaped, wider than long.
Fruits:
Capsules, round, 2.5-3.5 mm long; seeds 2.5 mm long, hairy.
Illustration
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
Ecology
Ecological Framework for Polygala senega
The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
| Site Information |
Value / Class |
||
|
Avg |
Min |
Max |
|
| Elevation
(metres) |
2073 | 2073 | 2073 |
| Slope
Gradient (%) |
30 | 30 | 30 |
|
Aspect (degrees) |
280 | 280 | 280 |
| Soil
Moisture Regime (SMR) [0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic; 8 - hydric] |
3 | 3 | 3 |
| Modal
Nutrient Regime
Class |
D | ||
| #
of field plots species was recorded in: |
1 | ||
| Modal
BEC Zone Class |
ESSF | ||
|
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in |
ESSF(1) | ||
|
Source:
Klinkenberg 2013
|
|||
Habitat and Range
Moist to mesic grassy slopes in the montane zone; rare in NE BC, known only from Pouce CoupȨ; E to NB and S to AR, TN, GA and SD.Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Polygala senega var. latifolia Torr. & A. Gray