178 GENTIANE. 
racemosely panicled ; pedicels solitary, axillary, and terminal ; 
calycine segments lanceolate, acuminated, longer than the co~ 
rola. Corolline segments acuminated, broad at the base. 
Nerved-leaved Agathotes. Pl. 2 to 3 feet. 
3 A. CuinayirA (D. Don, mss.) stem terete; leaves ovate- 
lanceolate: scrobicles of corolla oblong, distinct: having the 
edges fringed with hairs. ©.H. Native of Nipaul, Kamaon, 
and Himalaiah. Gentiana Chiràta, Wall. pl. asiat. rar. 3. 
p. 33. t. 252.  Gentiàna cheràyta, Fleming. asiat. res. 2. p. 16. 
Roxb. fl. ind. 2. p. 71. Swértia purpürea, Royle, herb. Swér- 
tia chiràta, Hamilt. mss. Flowers greenish yellow. Segments 
of calyx about equal in length to the corolla. The whole of the 
dried herb of this plant is in general use among the natives of 
Hindostan, and the mountainous countries bordering upon it to 
the north. It is called in the Sanscrit Chirata, Chiratatikta, and 
Cherataka, &c., and in the Bengalee Chireta and Chirayta. 
Dr. Wallich thinks that it contains a larger proportion and 
greater intensity of bitter principle than any other species of 
Gentian, and that the introduction of it into our pharma- 
copeeia would be attended with much public benefit. A weak 
infusion of it, made with cold spring or rain water, should be 
used in small quantities, repeated several times daily, for some 
weeks, when it may advantageously be left off for a short time, 
and then resumed again. A decoction or infusion, made with 
hot water, Dr. Fleming says is objectionable, on account of the 
head-ache it generally produces. The dried herb of the Chi- 
rata is met with in every bazaar in Hindostan, being a medicine 
in the highest repute with both the Hindu and European prac- 
titioners. It contains all the stomachic, tonic, febrifugal and 
antarthritic virtues which are ascribed to Aslérias lütea, but ina 
greater degree. The efficacy of Chirdta, when combined with 
Caranga nut, the Guilandina Bonducélla, in curing intermittents, 
has already been mentioned under that name, in vol. II. It 
is found equally powerful in exciting and strengthening the 
action of the stomiach, and obviating flatulency, acidity, and 
redundancy of phlegm, in dyspepsia and gout. For restoring 
the tone and activity of the moving fibre in general debility, 
and in that kind of cachexy which is liable to terminate in 
dropsy. In Chirayta will be found one of the most useful and 
efficacious remedies which can be employed. Infusions of the 
plant are the best way of administering it. Spirituous tinctures 
are also prepared with the addition of cardamom seeds or orange 
peel. The most useful purpose to which the tincture can be 
applied, is that of being added to the infusion to render it more 
agreeable. 
Chirayta. Pl. 2-4 feet. 
Cult. For culture and propagation, see Ophelia, p. 179. 
IV. OPHELIA (from westa, opheleia, service ; plants ser- 
viceable in medicine). D. Don, mss.—Swértia species of 
authors. 
Lin. syst. — Tetra-Pentándria, Monogijnia. Calyx deeply 
4-5-parted, spreading. Corolla rotate, deeply 4-5-parted ; nec- 
tariferous glands or pores at the base of each segment 2, dis- 
tinct or combined, naked. Stamens 4-5; filaments subulate, 
glabrous; anthers cordate, obtuse, 2-celled. Ovarium fusiform. 
Style very short; stigma 2-lobed : lobes obtuse, revolute, prui- 
nose. Capsule ovate, membranous, 1-celled, 2-valved, many- 
seeded, dehiscing at top. Seeds minute, angular, scrobiculate, 
dark brown, scabrous.—Annual branched herbs, natives of 
Nipaul; with quadrangular stems ; opposite sessile leaves ; and 
panicled, white, or purple flowers. 
* Segments of corolla furnished mith 2 conferruminated glands 
or pores at the base of each. 
1 O. awcusrirüLIA (D. Don, mss.) flowers 4-cleft ; leaves 
19 
III. Acatnores. 
IV. Ornzria. 
petiolate, linear-lanceolate, acute; calycine segments linear, 
mucronate; segments of corolla ovate, acuminated, hardly 
shorter than the calyx. (2. H. Native of Nipaul, at Narain- 
hettv, and of Kamaon and Sirmore. Swértia angustifólia, S. 
pulchélla, and S. dichótoma, Ham. herb. S. angustifolia, D. 
Don, prod. fl. nep. p. 127. Wall. pl. rar. asiat. 3. p. 2. t. 204. 
Branches trichotomous. Leaves 2 inches long. Flowers pale 
purple, dotted. with paler purple. Root fusiform, fibry. The 
glands or pores on the segments of the corolla are bearded 
above, consequently it may be a species of Agathotes, 
Narrow-leaved Ophelia. Pl. 1 to 2 feet. 
2 O. cit1a‘ta (D. Don, mss.) flowers 5-cleft ; leaves linear, 
scabrous, with revolute margins, petiolate, ciliated ; calycine 
segments lanceolate, mucronate; segments of corolla ovate- 
lanceolate, acuminated, tuberculate at the base, hardly longer 
than the calyx; stem nearly terete. ©. H. Native of the 
Himalaiah, Royle.  Swértia ciliata, Royle, herb. Stem sca- 
brous at the joints. 
Ciliated-leaved Ophelia. Pl. 1 foot. 4 
3 O. Warricuu; flowers 5-cleft; leaves lanceolate, acumin- 
ated, 3-nerved, ciliated at the base; segments of corolla ovate, 
shorter than the calyx; filaments dilated at the base. ©. H. 
Native throughout Nipaul and Kamaon.  Swértia paniculata, 
Wall. pl. rar. asiat. 3. p. 3. t. 205. Flowers whitish-purple. 
Perhaps the same as Oph. ciliata. 
Wallich’s Ophelia. Pl. 1 to 2 feet. 
4 O. rE'nzs (D. Don, mss.) flowers 5-cleft ; leaves lanceolate, 
acuminated, 3-nerved, scabrous, petiolate, ciliated; calycine 
segments mucronate; segments of corolla ovate-lanceolate, acu- 
minated, longer than the calyx ; filaments monadelphous ; stem 
terete. ©. H. Native of Nipaul, at Gosaingsthan. Swértia 
racemósa, Wall. cat. no. 4377. Flowers white, but dark purple 
at the base. 
Terete-stemmed Ophelia. Pl. 2 to 3 feet. 
5 O. FLÓRIDA; flowers 4-cleft? leaves sessile, lanceolate, 
3-nerved, acuminated, becoming gradually narrower and smaller 
as they approach the top; calycine segments linear-setaceous, 
longer than the corolla before its expansion, but are afterwards 
about equal in length to it; segments of corolla oblong, mucro- 
nate; flowers corymbose and racemose. (9. S. Native of the 
Burmese empire, at Prome, and on mount Taong Dong. Swér- 
tia florida, Wall. cat. no. 4382. The flowers of the plant from 
Prome are paniculately corymbose ; and those of the plant from 
Taong Dong, are paniculately racemose. Lower leaves petiolate. 
Flowery Ophelia. Pl. 2 feet. ` 
6 O. Curna'vrA (D. Don, mss.) flowers 5-cleft ; leaves sessile, 
ovate, acute, 5-nerved; calycine segments ovate-lanceolate, 
acuminated ; segments of corolla oblong, bluntish, shorter than 
the calyx. ©.H. Native of Nipaul. Swértia latifolia, Royle, 
herb. Flowers very pale blue. 
Chirayta Ophelia. Pl. 1 to 2 feet. ? 
7 O. pérricens (D. Don, mss.) flowers 4-cleft ; leaves linear, 
acute, glabrous: with revolute edges; calycine segments lan- 
ceolate, acuminated ; segments of corolla ovate, mucronulate, 
longer than the calyx; stem tetragonal. ©. H. Native of 
Nipaul. Swértia pulchélla, Ham. ex Wall. cat. no. 4375. 
Swértia élegans, Wall. cat. no. 4376. is only a slight variety of 
this species. : 
Stretching Ophelia. Pl. 1 foot. 
8 O. corpa‘ta; flowers 5-cleft? leaves ovate, cordate at 
the base, 5-nerved; panicles axillary and terminal, racemose ; 
calycine segments ovate, acuminated, about equal in length to 
the segments of the corolla, which are also nearly similar in 
shape. ©. H. Native of Kamaon. .Swértia cordata, Wall. 
cat. no, 4378. Stem branched, tetragonal; angles slightly 
winged ; wings rather scabrous. 
