Citation: L., Sp. Pl. 703 (1753).

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: Myrtleleaved milkwort, parrot bush.

Description:
Large densely leaved shrub; leaves 1-4 cm long, elliptic to broad-elliptic, shortly petiolate, apex obtuse.

flowers purple to lilac, c. 2 cm long, in short terminal racemes; peduncle c. 1 cm long; outer sepals narrowly to widely ovate, apiculate; wing sepals broadly obliquely ovate; keel c. 1 cm long, bearing a crest of 2 much-branched appendages 4-6 mm long, much longer than the very acuminate lateral petals; stamens 8; filaments free for less than half their length; style curved; stigma short and broad.

Capsule c. 10 mm long, c. 8 mm wide, orbicular, with a marginal wing c. 1 mm wide; seeds c. 4 mm long, broadly ovoid to cylindrical, with scattered hairs.

	Polygala myrtifolia twig, 2 views of flower, flower with lateral petals removed, lateral petal, 2 views of the sepals.
Image source: fig 418d in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).

Published illustration: Ewart (1931) Flora of Victoria, fig. 286; Rice & Compton (1950) Wild flowers of the Cape of Good Hope. pl. 8.

Distribution:  Garden escape naturalised to some extent. S.Aust.: EP, YP, SL, KI, SE.   W.Aust.; N.S.W.; Vic.   Native to Africa. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: throughout the year but mainly Sept. — Oct.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available