Polygala chinensis

Polygala chinensis

Polygala chinensis

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 chinensis

Name

Polygala chinensis L., Sp. Pl.: 704 (1753)

Synonyms

• Homotypic
  • Polygala chinensis var. normalis Domin in Biblioth. Bot. 22(89): 857 (1927), not validly publ.
• Heterotypic
  • Polygala angustifolia B.Heyne ex Wight & Arn. in Prodr. Fl. Ind. Orient. 1: 37 (1834), nom. illeg. homonym. post.
  • Polygala chinensis var. pygmaea (C.Y.Wu & S.K.Chen) S.K.Chen & J.Parn. in Fl. China 11: 155 (2008)
  • Polygala chinensis var. villosa (C.Y.Wu & S.K.Chen) S.K.Chen & J.Parn. in Fl. China 11: 155 (2008)
  • Polygala densiflora Blume in Bijdr. Fl. Ned. Ind.: 59 (1825)
  • Polygala depauperata Wall. in Numer. List: n.° 4180 (1831), not validly publ.
  • Polygala exigua Hassk. in Ann. Mus. Bot. Lugduno-Batavi 1: 173 (1864)
  • Polygala glabra B.Heyne ex A.W.Benn. in J.D.Hooker, Fl. Brit. India 1: 204 (1872), not validly publ.
  • Polygala glomerata Lour. in Fl. Cochinch.: 426 (1790)
  • Polygala glomerata var. langbianensis A.Chev. ex Gagnep. in unknown publication (1939)
  • Polygala glomerata var. pedunculosa Thwaites in Enum. Pl. Zeyl.: 400 (1864)
  • Polygala glomerata var. pygmaea C.Y.Wu & S.K.Chen in Acta Bot. Yunnan. 2: 89 (1980)
  • Polygala glomerata var. villosa C.Y.Wu & S.K.Chen in Acta Bot. Yunnan. 2: 90 (1980)
  • Polygala grandiflora Wight in N.Wallich, Numer. List: n.° 4175 (1831), not validly publ.
  • Polygala linariifolia Poir. in J.B.A.M.de Lamarck, Encycl. 5: 495 (1804), nom. illeg. homonym. post.
  • Polygala linearis B.Heyne ex Wight & Arn. in Prodr. Fl. Ind. Orient. 1: 38 (1834), not validly publ.
  • Polygala procumbens B.Heyne ex Roth in Nov. Pl. Sp.: 329 (1821)
  • Polygala procumbens var. angustifolia Roth in Nov. Pl. Sp.: 329 (1821)
  • Polygala ramosa Wight in N.Wallich, Numer. List: n.° 4177 (1831), not validly publ.
  • Polygala rothiana Wight & Arn. in R.Wight, Cat. Ind. Pl.: 9 (1833)
  • Polygala senduaris Buch.-Ham. ex Wall. in Numer. List: n.° 4170 B (1831), not validly publ.
  • Polygala sinensis J.F.Gmel. in Syst. Nat., ed. 13[bis].: 1082 (1792)
  • Polygala socotrana Chodat in Bull. Herb. Boissier 4: 236 (1896)
  • Polygala telephioides Willd. in Sp. Pl., ed. 4. 3: 876 (1802)
  • Polygala thwaitesii Hassk. in Ann. Mus. Bot. Lugduno-Batavi 1: 169 (1864)
  • Polygala toxoptera Turcz. in Bull. Soc. Imp. Naturalistes Moscou 27(II): 348 (1854 publ. 1855)
  • Polygala tranquebarica Mart. in Denkschr. Königl.-Baier. Bot. Ges. Regensburg 1(1): 186 (1815)
  • Polygala varians Mart. in Denkschr. Königl.-Baier. Bot. Ges. Regensburg 1(1): 184 (1815)

Distribution

Native distribution areas:

Asia-Temperate China China South-Central, China Southeast, Hainan Eastern Asia Nansei-shoto, Taiwan Asia-Tropical Indian Subcontinent Assam, Bangladesh, East Himalaya, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Himalaya Indo-China Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Nicobar Is., Thailand, Vietnam Malesia Borneo, Jawa, Lesser Sunda Is., Malaya, Philippines, Sumatera Papuasia New Guinea, Solomon Is. Australasia Australia Northern Territory, Queensland Pacific Northwestern Pacific Caroline Is. References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition

References

Primary references

• Linnaeus, C. 1753. Species Plantarum. Tomus II: 704. Reference page. 

Additional references

• Wu, Zh.Y., Raven, P.H. & Hong, D.-Y. (eds.) 2008. Flora of China. Volume 11: Oxalidaceae through Aceraceae. Science Press, Beijing & Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis, ISBN 978-1-930723-73-3. Reference page. 

Links

• Govaerts, R. et al. 2026. Polygala chinensis in Kew Science Plants of the World Online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2026 April 18. Reference page. 
• International Plant Names Index. 2026. Polygala chinensis. Published online. Accessed: April 18 2026. Reference page.
• USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Polygala chinensis in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 07-Oct-06. Reference page. 

Vernacular names

• Sunda: Maléla
• 中文: 華南遠志, 华南远志

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