Key to Brazilian species of Polygala sect. Timutua ser. Trichospermae Chodat

1. Aphyllous plants or with scale like leaves (eventually leaves at first nodes are ovate or elliptic).... 2

– Plant with linear to wide ovate leaves ............................................................................................... 5

2. Seeds with two caruncular appendages ............................................................................................. 3

– Seeds without caruncular appendages ............................................................................................... 4

3. Seeds without a ring of trichomes at the base of the seed, tricomes uncinate...... P. apparicioi Brade

– Seeds with a ring of trichomes at the base of the seed, trichomes straight.......................................... ................................................................................... P. tocantinensis J.F.B.Pastore & Antar sp. nov.

4. Plant brownish, freshy, corolla caducous in frutification.......... P. saprophytica Chodat ex Grondona

– Plant greenish, not freshy, corolla persistent in frutification ..................................... P. subtilis Kunth

5. Seeds with two caruncular appendages ............................................................................................. 6

– Seeds without caruncular appendages ............................................................................................... 8

6. With a ring of trichomes at the base of the seed................................................ P. trichosperma Jacq.

– Seeds without a ring of trichomes at base ......................................................................................... 7

7. Seeds with caruncular appendages ca ½ of the seeds, with uncinate trichomes ................................ ................................................................................................................ P. juncea A.St. -Hil. & Moq.

– Seeds with appendiges reaching not more than ¼ of the length, trichomes straight........................... ......................................................................................... P. bringellii J.F.B.Pastore & Antar sp. nov.

8. Keel much longer (at least 80% longer) than the internal sepals (wings); style ca 5 times as long as the ovary; crest of keel wider in the apex (petal-like) .......................................... P. adenophora DC.

– Keel shorter or longer (not more than 20%) than the internal sepal (wings); style shorter or the same length of the ovary, crest of the keel not wider in the apex (not petal-like) ...................................... 9

9. Seed conical..................................................................................................................................... 10

– Seed subglobose to sub-oblong ........................................................................................................11

10. Pedicel 1.8–3.5 mm long; corolla caducous on mature fruit ............................. P. longicaulis Kunth

– Pedicel 0.5–0.8 mm long, corolla persistent on mature fruit................... P. pseudovariabilis Chodat

11. Seed subglobose, glabrous or with uncinate trichomes............. P. chapadensis Chodat ex Grondona

– Seeds suboblong, with straight or curved trichomes, never uncinate... P. herbiola A.St. -Hil. & Moq.