Galega
(from gala, milk; referring to its supposed property of increasing the milk of animals which feed upon the plants). Goat's Rue. ORD. Leguminosoe. A genus comprising three species of ornamental, hardy, smooth, erect perennial herbs, natives of southern Europe and Western Asia. Flowers white or blue, disposed in axillary and terminal racemes. Leave impari-pinnate; leaflets entire, veined; stipules somewhat sagittate. The species succeed in almost any soil, but will well repay for liberal treatment. They succeed in rich loam, with a sunny situation, and can remain year after year in one position. It is, however, advisable to divide them every few years. Propagation is effected by dividing the roots into several strong pieces, and replanting them in a deeply dug soil, and in a position where they are intended to flower; or by seeds, sown in the open ground, in spring.
G. officinalis (officinal).* fl. blue; racemes longer than the leaves. Summer. l. lanceolate, mucronate, glabrous; stipules broad-lanceolate. h. 3ft. to 4ft. South Europe, 158.
G. o. albiflora (white-flowered)* is a pretty white-flowered from h. 2ft. to 3ft. Persia, 1823. SYN. G. persica.
G. orientalis (Eastern).* fl. blue; racemes longer than the leaves. Summer and autumn. l. ovate, acuminated, smooth; stipules broad-ovate. h. 2ft. to 4ft. Caucasus, 1810. This species may be distinguished by its creeping roots and simple, flexuous stems. (B. M. 2192.) G. persica (Persian). A synonym of G. officinalis albiflora.