Polygala nitida Brandegee var. tamaulipana T. Wendt, J. Arnold Arbor. 60: 508. 1979

Stems erect, hairs closely incurved-appressed, mostly 0.07–0.1(–0.15) mm, very close to stem, tips touching stem surface. Leaf blades narrowly elliptic to lanceolate or linear, including basal ones, length 5+ times width, or when leaves in proximal 1/3 of stem are broader, then distal leaves lanceolate-elliptic, much narrower than proximal leaves, 5–35(–40) × 1–3 mm, apex acute to acuminate. Pedicels 1.5–3 mm. Beaks rarely absent. 2n = 36.

Flowering early spring–fall. Caliche or shale soils or sands in thorn scrub, oak-savannas, coastal prairies, or montane woodlands; 0–600 m; Tex.; Mexico (Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas).

Variety tamaulipana occurs from central Tamaulipas and eastern Nuevo León north into south-central and coastal Texas.