Senega ambigua (Nuttall) J.F.B. Pastore & J.R. Abbott. Subgenus: Senega. Section: Verticillatae. Common name: Loose Milkwort. Phenology: Jun-Sep. Habitat: Fields, woodlands, openings. Distribution: ME west to MI, south to GA, AL, and OK.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: Through most of its range S. ambigua has wings 1.3-1.7 mm long; plants from se. VA south to SC and from the Ozarks have wings 2.0-2.6 mm long. These plants have been named as a variety of Polygala verticillata, var. dolichoptera Fernald. They may warrant taxonomic recognition, but need additional study, including resolution of our Coastal Plain plants and those of the Ozarks.
Synonymy ⓘ: = Pastore et al (2023); = Polygala ambigua Nutt. — C, G, Il, K4, NE, S, S13, Tn; = Polygala verticillata L. var. ambigua (Nutt.) Wood — GrPl, Mo3, Pa, RAB, Tat, Tx; < Polygala verticillata L. — FNA10, W; > Polygala verticillata L. var. ambigua (Nutt.) Wood — F, WV; > Polygala verticillata L. var. dolichoptera Fernald — F, WV. Basionym: Polygala ambigua Nutt. 1818
Links to other floras: < Polygala verticillata - FNA10
Show parent genus | Show parent in key(s)
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU (name change)
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU (name change)
- Great Plains: FACU (name change)
- Midwest: FACU (name change)
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU (name change)
Hover over a shape, letter, icon, or arrow on the map for definition or see the legend.
© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷Feedback
See something missing or incorrect about Senega ambigua? Let us know here:
- Please include your name and if possible, email in case when need to clarify what you wrote.
- If you opt out of including email, please be as specific as possible (e.g., which photo is incorrect?)
- Please do not submit questions asking to identify plants or about horticultural topics (e.g., how do I control an invasive plant in my garden?). Instead, those questions can be submitted here for the Carolinas region only.
- Please do not send us feedback about unkeyed species as this work is ongoing.
- Please allow time for flora edits to show in our next data release. We greatly appreciate your feedback but may require extra time to research complicated taxonomic issues.
Horticultural Information
No horticultural data found for this taxon.