(n) small European perennial with numerous branches having racemes of blue, pink or white flowers; formerly reputed to promote human lactation, Syn. Polygala vulgaris, gand flower
(n) a small fleshy herb common along North American seashores and in brackish marshes having pink or white flowers, Syn. black saltwort, sea trifoly, Glaux maritima
n. (Bot.) A genus of plants (Polygala) of many species. The common European Polygala vulgaris was supposed to have the power of producing a flow of milk in nurses. [ 1913 Webster ]
☞ The species of Campanula, or bellflower, are sometimes called milkwort, from their juice. [ 1913 Webster ]
[小花远志 / 小花遠志, xiǎo huā yuǎn zhìㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄩㄢˇ ㄓˋ] small-flowered milkwort (Polygala arvensis Willd. or P. telephioides), with roots used in Chinese medicine