Polygala amara

Polygala amara

Taxonavigation

Taxonavigation: Fabales
Classification System: APG IV Superregnum: Eukaryota Cladus: Diaphoretickes Cladus: CAM Cladus: Archaeplastida Regnum: Plantae Cladus: Angiosperms Cladus: Eudicots Cladus: Core eudicots Cladus: Rosids Cladus: Unieurosida Ordo: Fabales

Familia: Polygalaceae
Tribus: Polygaleae
Genus: Polygala
Species: Polygala amara
Subspeciesː P. a. subsp. amara – P. a. subsp. brachyptera

Name

Polygala amara L., Syst. nat. ed. 10, 2: 1154 (1759).

Distribution

Native distribution areas:
Continental: Europe Regionalː Central Europe Austria, Czechia-Slovakia, Germany, Hungary, Poland Regionalː Southestern Europe NW. Balkan Pen., Romania, Ukraine Recorded in error in: Italy References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition

References

Primary references

• Linnaeus, C. 1759. Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus II. Editio decima, reformata. Pp. [I–VI], 825–1384. Impensis direct. Laurentii Salvii, Holmiae [Stockholm]. BHL Reference page. ː 1154

Additional references

• Hassler, M. & Muer, T. 2022. Flora Germanica. Alle Farn- und Blütenpflanzen Deutschlands in Text und Bild. 2 vols., 1712 pp., Verlag Regionalkultur, Ubstadt-Weiher. ISBN 978-3-95505-333-8 Reference page. 
• Tutin, T.G., Heywood, V.H., Burges, N.A., Moore, D.M., Valentine, D.H., Walters, S.M. & Webb, D.A. (eds.) 1968. Flora Europaea. Volume 2: Rosaceae to Umbelliferae. xxvii + 455 pp, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (UK), ISBN 0-521-06662-X. Reference page. 

Links

• Govaerts, R. et al. 2026. Polygala amara in Kew Science Plants of the World Online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2026 April 12. Reference page. 
• International Plant Names Index. 2026. Polygala amara. Published online. Accessed: April 12 2026. Reference page.
• USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Polygala amara in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 07-Oct-06. Reference page. 

Vernacular names

• čeština: vítod hořký krátkokřídlý
• Deutsch: Bittere Kreuzblume
• English: bitter milkwort
• hornjoserbsce: Hórka křižnička
• magyar: keserű pacsirtafű, kisvirágú pacsirtafű
• polski: Krzyżownica gorzka, Krzyżownica górska, Polygala brachyptera, Krzyżownica gorzka górska
• slovenčina: horčinka horká
• slovenščina: grenka grebenuša
• српски / srpski: Крстушац

For more multimedia, look at Polygala amara on Wikimedia Commons.