March 19, 2024

This is Yellow Milkwort

One of the happiest flowers I've seen

But when not in bloom

You'd never assume

It's a bright yellow smile-making machine. 

Location: UF DeLuca Preserve 2024 Bioblitz

Sources: https://www.flawildflowers.org/flower-friday-polygala-rugelii

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

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July 5, 2022

These plants are Yellow Milkwort

Although there are many, they are solitary

For plants this means there is one flower per plant

Not two or three, it's not arbitrary.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.flawildflowers.org/flower-friday-polygala-rugelii/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_botanical_terms#solitary

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 10, 2021

This is Polygala rugelii

Also known as Yellow Milkwort

It would make a nice boutonnière

On the lapel of a fancy silk shirt.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://flawildflowers.org/flower-friday-polygala-rugelii/

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 23, 2018

Location: Malabar, Malabar Scrub

This is Yellow Milkwort.
Florida's the only place that it grows.
Its seeds are spread by ants who eat the "food body",
And then the seeds, in a heap, are disposed.

Sources: Wild South Florida - Yellow Milkwort  (This is a very interesting article, read to find out what a food body is!)

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson