I agree. Here is the set of county BONAP maps. You may be able to find which possibilities are found in your county (the maps will enlarge if clicked on) and then look those up to see which most resembles your plant. There is a clickable color legend to help understand the maps.

Thank you both. I checked USDA's county distribution for polygala. It seems Polygala polygama Walter (racemed milkwort). http://sernecportal.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=96252 has good photos. Lady Bird John Wildflower Center page says it has cleistogamous flowers. I'll go back and see if they are there.

It's definitely P. polygama, which is one of my favs. None of the other Polygala species have those distinctive flowers with fringed petals.

Actually, Polygala paucifolia (Gaywings) has similar flowers, although the fringes are pink and not white; but the form of the plant is completely different - very low to the ground with just a small cluster of rather large flowers.

Polygala is a fun genus - a lot of mildly oddball flowers in a real variety of environments. There are 3 kinds that commonly grow in boggy areas here in the NJ pine barrens, including one that has neon orange flower. (Polygala lutea.) I always enjoy finding them.

I feel so deprived. We only have four measly little species. All very cute but very small. Stunning photos, btw.