Polygala erioptera DC. [family POLYGALACEAE], Prodr. 1: 326 (1824); Petit in F.C.B. 7: 255 (1958); Exell in F.Z. 1, 1: 316 (1960); Thulin, Fl. Somalia 1: 84 (1993); U.K.W.F. ed. 2: 56 (1994); Paiva in Fontqueria 50: 169, t. 28/c (1998); Gilbert in Fl. Eth. 2, 1: 182, fig. 24.2/16, 17 (2000). Type: Senegal, Bacle s.n. (G-DC!, lecto.)
Polygala paniculata Forssk. [family POLYGALACEAE], Fl. Aegypt.-Arab.: 117 (1775), nom. nud., non L. (1759)
Polygala linearis R.Br. [family POLYGALACEAE], in Salt, Voy. Abyss., App. 4: 65 (1814), nom. nud., non Lagasca (1816)
Polygala oligantha A.Rich. [family POLYGALACEAE], Tent. Fl. Abyss. 1: 38 (1847). Type: Ethiopia, Choho, Petit s.n. (P!, holo.)
Polygala retusa Hochst. [family POLYGALACEAE], in F.T.A.1: 129 (1868), nom. illeg.
Polygala nubica Hochst. [family POLYGALACEAE], in F.T.A. 1: 129 (1868), nom. illeg.
Polygala triflora [family POLYGALACEAE], sensu Oliv., F.T.A. 1: 129 (1868), non L. (1753)
Polygala erioptera Chodat var. abyssinica [family POLYGALACEAE], in Mém. Soc. Phys. Hist. Nat. Genève 31 (2): 344 (1893). Type: Ethiopia, Mt Ghedem, Schweinfurth & Riva 125 (FR!, holo.; K!, iso.)
Polygala petraea Chodat [family POLYGALACEAE], in Mém. Soc. Phys. Hist. Nat. Genève 31 (2): 346 (1893). Type: Kenya, Kitui District: Ukamba, Hildebrandt 2784 (B†, holo.; M! lecto., K!, W!, isolecto.)
Polygala erioptera (Chodat) Paiva subsp. petraea [family POLYGALACEAE], in Fontqueria 50: 172 (1998)