SPIGELIACE E. 
buid. Stamens inclosed, inserted in the middle of the tube of 
the corolla. Style bifid at the base, at the time the flowers are 
expanded. Stigma 2-lobed. 
17 M. paravoxa (R. Br. l. c.) umbels terminal : leaves linear- 
lanceolate; stem erect; capsule inclosed. ©. G. Native of 
New Holland, on the south coast. 
Paradoxical Mitrasacme. PI. 
Secr. III. Hotécyne (from óXoc, holos, entire, and yvyn, 
gyne, afemale; in reference to the undivided style and stigma). 
Style undivided at the base at the time the flowers are open. 
Stigma entire. Calyx 4-cleft. Stamens inclosed, inserted in 
the middle of the tube of the corolla. 
18 M. conna‘ra (R. Br. l. c.) scape terminal, glabrous, longer 
than the stem, which is pilose; umbels simple; limb of corolla 
about equal to the tube in length: with the segments linear- 
lanceolate; segments of calyx one half shorter than the tube; 
leaves 3-nerved ; upper ones approximating ina stellate manner. 
©. S. Nativeof New Holland, within the tropic. 
Connate-leaved Mitrasacme. PI. 
19 M. carirrna' mrs (Wall. in Roxb. fl. ind. 1. 420. D. Don, 
prod. fl nep. 129.) umbels nearly simple, on elongated pedun- 
cles; pedicels and calyxes glandular; segments of corolla 
roundish, obtuse; leaves elliptic, mucronulate, pilose as well 
as the stem, which is short. (2. G. Native of Nipaul, in the 
Great Valley. Leaves decussate, obsoletely 3-nerved, connate 
at the base from the membranous sheathing stipulas. Pedicels 
very long. Flowers small, white. Segments of calyx with 
membranous ciliated margins. Style subulate, dilated at the 
base, bipartite when the capsule becomes mature. Stigma ca- 
pitate, pruinose, slightly 2-lobed. Capsule 2-celled, empty at top. 
Capillary Mitrasaeme. | Pl. 4 foot. 
20 M. nupicav'Lis (Reinwdt. herb. ex Blum. bijdr. p. 849.) 
scape radical, elongated, trifid ; leaves opposite, remote, stipula- 
formed; umbels usually 3-flowered; corolla salver-shaped ; 
having the tube thrice as long as the calyx ; radical leaves stel- 
late, oval-oblong, obtuse. X. S. Native of the island of Salor. 
Naked-stemmed Mitrasacme. | Fl. Aug. Sept. Pl. 
Sect. IV. Precoca‘tyx (from màekw, pleco, to plait, and 
xaAvE, calyx ; in reference to the plicate calyx). Calyx plicate, 
4-cleft; lobes concave.  Stamens exserted, inserted in the 
throat of thecorolla. Capsule at length semi-bivalved. 
21 M. ampicua (R. Br. l. c.) scapes radical, capillary, naked; 
umbels rather compound; leaves oblong-lanceolate. ©. G 
Native of New Holland, within the tropic. 
Ambiguous Mitrasacme. PI. 
Cult. The species of Mitrasácme being for the most part 
annual, the seeds of those which can be procured should 
be sown in pots, filled with an equal mixture of sand, loam, 
and peat, and reared in a hot-bed in spring; and when they 
have grown to a sufficient size, they should be thinned, if too 
thick, and afterwards placed in the greenhouse, or in a frame. 
Orver CLVII. GENTIA'NEZE. (This order contains plants 
agreeing with the genus Gentiana in particular characters.) Juss. 
gen. p. 141. ed. Usteri, p. 157. R. Br. 149. H. B. et Kunth, 
nov. gen. amer. 2 p. 167. Mart. nov. gen. bras, 2. p. 132. 
Calyx 4-5 cleft, permanent. Corolla monopetalous, hypogynous, 
regular, marcescent or deciduous; with an equally parted limb ; 
lobes equal in number to the calycinesegments, but usually 5, some- 
times from 4-8, imbricate in estivation. Stamens epipetalous, 
equal in number to the segments of the corolla, and alternating 
with them, but some of them are abortive. 
1-2-celled, many-seeded. 
Ovarium solitary, 
Styles 1 or 2, when 2 they are partly 
combined or altogether so; stigmas 1-2. Capsule (sometimes 
III. Mirrasacme. 
GENTIANE. 173 
a berry) many-seeded, 1-2-celled, usually 2-valved ; having the 
margins of the valves bent in and bearing the seeds in those 
in which the capsule is l-celled ; but the seeds are inserted in 
central placentas in those with 2-celled capsules. Seeds small. 
Embryo straight, inclosed in the axis of soft fleshy albumen. 
Radicle tending towards the umbilicus.—Herbs, rarely shrubs, 
usually glabrous. Leaves opposite, entire, exstipulate. Flowers 
terminal or axillary. 
This order is more readily distinguished by habit alone, than 
by character. It is nearly allied to Polemoniacee, Scrophu- 
lárine, and Spigeliacee ; from the first it is distinguished by 
the dehiscence of the capsule and placentation of the seeds ; 
from the second in the flowers being regular, and in the stamens 
being equal in length; and from the latter in the style not being 
kneed, in the capsule being l-celled, and in the seeds being 
fixed to the edges of the valves. It also comes near to Apocynee, 
but is readily distinguished from that order in the zestivation of 
the corolla. In Swértia perénnis the embryo is in the umbilical 
region of the seed, contrary to the assertion of Dr. Gartner. 
The species are chiefly natives of cool and mountainous re- 
gions of Europe, Asia, and America. They are mostly dwarf, 
herbaceous plants, with deep blue, yellow, or white flowers, the 
former colour prevailing. They are all pretty, and most of 
them beautiful in the highest degree, but, with few exceptions, 
they are impatient of cultivation. The medicinal properties of 
the root of Astérias làtea, Coilántha rübra, and C. purpirea, 
the stems and leaves of Asathótes alata, Erythre‘a Centaürium, 
and E. Chilénsis, Fraséra Walteri, &c., are eminently tonic, sto- 
machic, and febrifugal ; their bitterness is second only to quassia 
and Peruvian bark. Similar, but more feeble virtues are found 
in most of this order. A kind of spirit is distilled in Switzerland 
from the roots of Gentiàna macerated in water. 
Synopsis of the genera. 
Tese I. 
Capsule 1-2-celled ; margins of valves pla- 
Seeds usually disposed in a double row. 
SUB-TRIBE I. GENTIA`NEÆ-VE`RÆ. Capsule 1-celled, 2-valved ; 
margins of valves bearing the seeds. 
changed. 
1 Swe’rtta. 
GruTIANIE' x. 
centiferous. 
Anthers remaining un- 
Corolla rotate, 4-5-parted: having 2 necta- 
riferous pores at the base of each segment, which are ciliated 
with hairs. Seeds compressed, marginate. 
2 Hate’nta. Corolla rotate, 4-5-parted : each segment fur- 
nished with a spur, horn or tubercle at the base. 
roundish, small, smooth. 
3 AGATHOTES. 
Seeds 
Corolla rotate, 4-parted: having 2 parallel, 
oblong, fringed pores at the base of each segment. Seeds 
minute, globose, smooth, 
4 OrnE ra., Corolla rotate, 4-5-parted; each segment 
furnished with 2 distinct or combined nectariferous, naked pores 
or glands at the base. 
5 GENTIANE'LLA. 
Seeds angular, scrobiculate, scabrous. 
Corolla 4-cleft, salver-shaped, furnished 
with 4 nectariferous pores at the bottom ; segments fringed. 
Seeds small, scobiform. 
