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Polygala sibirica L.

Flora Europaea the original Linnean specimens perennial forest-steppe xeric species with a very large Eurasian continental range Festucion valesiacae a very tiny and discrete species, which hardly can be spotted outside its flowering period           A very rare species in Romania, with a few small populations in the forest-steppe of Moldavia and Transylvania. These localities are the western most for the range of the species, which is vast, covering the whole Eurasian steppes and forest-steppes including the subtropical ones from southern Asia (see here the page of the species in Flora of China, here in Flora of Pakistan, here for Nepal and here for Afghanistan - hence the species is not a Pontic element as credited by many Romanian authors but a continental Eurasian one). The range expands in the subtropical forest-steppes of southern Asia and even in the dry grasslands of southern Australia (where it is considered as native and vulnerable, under the name Polygala japonica Houtt. (a taxon sometimes considered a variety of Polygala sibirica L. ) - see here and here). In China, India and Australia as well it is a highly valuable medicinal plant, under the name of Yuan Zhi. In 1997 the species was recorded also in Bulgaria (see here and here). Beautiful images with this species from China and Russia can be seen here and here. In the forest-steppe of Moldavia it is known from Valea lui David (Iasi county) and Bacani (Vaslui county). In Transylvania it was known in the XIXth century from Cenade (Alba county) where it got extinct. In the 70s of the XXth century it was reported again from Boarta (Valea Marului) and Mihaileni in Sibiu county from where seemingly it disappeared again. The images provided to us in 2012 by dr. Dragulescu Constantin from around Boarta, Seica Mare and Petis, Sibiu county as representing transitional forms between this species and Polygala vulgaris are certainly only individuals of this latter species. The same remark is valid for the individuals mentioned by dr. Klaus Gross near Cris, Mures county. In June 2012 we found a new small population (yet incompletely surveyed north of Ernea, Sibiu county which is documented in the images below. Ernea, Sibiu county in Tarnave Tableland on the sunny steep clines of Cund ridge, June 2012. dr. Alexandru Badarau, alexandru@transsilvanica.net