; Sp. Pl. [Linnaeus] 2: 701 (1753)
Distribution: tropical, subtropical and temp. regions of the Old World (86 South Africa). Most of the New World taxa of this still polyphyletic genus have recently been transferred into the split genus Senega. Even after that, Polygala remains polyphyletic, and the subgen. Chodatia should be transferred into its own genus related to Heterosamara and Polygaloides.
= Anthalogea Raf.; New Fl. [Rafinesque] 4: 88 (1836)
= Brachytropis Rchb.; Consp. Regn. Veg. [H.G.L.Reichenbach] 120 (1828)
= Corymbula Raf.; New Fl. [Rafinesque] 4: 88 (1836)
= Isolophus Spach; Hist. Nat. Vég. [Spach] 7: 112 (1839)
= Microlophium Fourr.; Ann. Soc. Linn. Lyon, Sér. 2, 17: 195 (1869)
= Phylax Noronha; Verh. Batav. Genootsch. Kunst. 5: ed. I. Art. IV. 3 (1790)
= Plostaxis Raf.; New Fl. [Rafinesque] 4: 87 (1836)
= Psychanthus Raf.; Specchio Sci. 1: 116 (1814)
= Semeiocardium Zoll.; Tijdschr. Ned.-Indië 17: 245 (1858)
= Senegaria Raf.; Actes Soc. Linn. Bordeaux 6: 264 (1834)
= Sexilia Raf.; New Fl. [Rafinesque] 4: 87 (1836)
= Tricholophus Spach; Hist. Nat. Vég. [Spach] 7: 114 (1839)
