184 
97. t.12. Pursh, fl. amer. sept. 1. p. 94. Nutt. gen. amer. 1, 
p. 172.—Andréwsia, Spreng. gen. 1. p. 85.— Bartónia species, 
Muhl. 
Lin. syst. Pentándria, Digynia, Calyx 4-parted, adpressed. 
Corolla urceolately campanulate, 4-cleft; segments ovate 
or oblong, erect or spreading. Stamens 4, inclosed ; inserted 
beneath the recesses of the limb of the corolla.  Anthers erect, 
subcordate, bluntish; filaments, subulate, flattened. Stigma thick, 
glandular, bluntly bifid. Capsule 1-celled, 2-valved, involu- 
crated by the permanent calyx and corolla. Seeds minute, glo- 
bular, attached to the edges of the valves.—Annual, glabrous, 
simple, or branched small plants. Leaves opposite, decussate. 
1 C. verna‘tis (Michx: fl. amer. bor. 1. p. 98. t. 12. f. 2.) 
stem simple; peduncles scattered, corymbosely elongated ; 
segments of corolla oblong, acute, twice longer than the calyx ; 
style longer than the ovarium. ©. H. Native from Virginia 
to Georgia, in mossy swamps. Andréwsia vérna, Spreng. syst. 
J.p. 428. Flowers white, larger than the other species. 
Far. B, uniflora (Pursh, l. c. p. 100.) small ; stem 1-flowered. 
This may prove to be a distinct species. 
Spring Centaurella. Fl. May, July. Pl. 4 foot. 
2 C. xsrivA'Lis (Pursh, fl. sept. amer. 1. p. 100.) stem 
simple; peduncles opposite, simple; segments of corolla spa- 
tulate, abruptly acute, 3 times longer than the calyx; style 
length of ovarium. ©.H. Native from Carolina to Georgia, 
in mossy swamps. Flowers smaller than the preceding ; the 
calyx short. 
Summer Centaurella. Fl. June, Aug. Pl. 1 to 4 foot. 
3 C. AvruuNA' Lis (Pursh, |. c.) stem a little branched ; pe- 
duncles opposite; lower ones branched; segments of corolla 
oval, acute, hardly longer than the calyx; style very short. 
C. H. Native from New England to Carolina, in mossy 
swamps, in inundated, grassy places. C. paniculata, Michx. fl. 
bor. amer. 1. p. 98. t. 12. f. 1. Bartónia tenélla, Muhl. in litt. 
Sagina Virginica, Willd. spec. 1. p. 719. Andréwsia autumna- 
lis, Spreng. syst. 1. p. 428. Flowers small, greenish white. 
Autumnal Centaurella. Fl. July, Sept. Pl. 3 to 1 foot. 
Cult. For culture and propagation see Eurythalia, p. 188. 
IX. ASTERIAS (from aornp, aster, a star; shape of flowers.) 
Borkh. in Roem. arch. 1. p. 14. Gentiàna lutea, Lin. 
Lin. syst.  Pentándria, Digynia. Calyx spathaceous, sca- 
rious, diaphanous, 3-4-cleft; segments short, lanceolate, un- 
equal. Corolla with a short tube, and a 5-cleft limb, furnished 
with agreen gland at the base of eachsegment ; segments oblong, 
acute, veiny, shorter than the calyx. Stamens 5-6; anthers 
subulate, combined at first, but at length distinct. Stigmas 
oblong, flat, revolute. Capsule ovate; 4 sided, acuminated. 
Seeds roundish, compressed, with membranous edges, disposed in 
3 series along the margins of the valves.—Showy plants, with 
the habit of Verátrum. Leaves broad, 5-nerved; cauline ones 
sessile: floral ones subcordate, stem-clasping, concave, all pale 
green, but glaucous beneath. Flowers apparently verticillate, 
pedicellate, seated on common thick peduncles. Bracteas 2-4, 
to each whorl of flowers, 3-nerved and equal in length to 
them. 
1 A. tu'rea (Borkh. in Roem. arch. 1. p. 25.) corollas ro- 
tate, 5-6-cleft; flowers verticillate, subcymose; leaves broad, 
ovate; calyx spathaceous. Y. H. Native of the alps of 
middle Europe, from the Pyrenees to Savoy. Gentiana lutea, 
Lin. spec. 367. Vill. delph. 2. p. 521. Mill. icon. t. 159. 
Plenck. off. t. 156. Woodv. med. bot. 3. p. 433. t. 156. Church. 
et Stev. med. bot. vol. 4, with a figure. Swértia lütea, Vest. in 
Tratt. tab. t. 518. Radical leaves ovate-oblong: cauline ones 
sessile, ovate, acute. Corolla yellow, veiny,and spotted. The roots 
GENTIANE/E. VIII. CENTAURELLA. 
IX. Asrertas. X. CoILANTHA. 
of Gentian are long, thick, externally of a brown colour, and 
wrinkled; internally spongy, and of a yellow colour, with- 
out any remarkable smell, but surpassing in bitterness all 
other European vegetables. Alcohol dissolves only the bitter 
extractive, water both the extractive and mucilage. Its bitter- 
ness depends upon a new principle discovered by Henri 
and Caventou, called gentianin, and is easily obtained in a 
crystalline form by means of ether, in which it is very soluble. 
Itlikewise dissolves in alcohol, and more sparingly in water. 
It appears to be neither alkaline nor acid. Gentian possesses 
the general virtues of bitters in an eminent degree, and it is 
totally devoid of astringency. On dead animal matter it acts 
as an antiseptic. ‘Taken into the stomach it proves a powerful 
tonic, and in large doses it evacuates the intestines. It is useful 
in weakness of the stomach, and in general debility. Externally 
its powder is applied to putrid ulcers. Narcotic effects have 
sometimes been ascribed to it, but these are owing to the roots 
of Aconite or Belladonna gathered along with it. 
Var. f, major ; flowers smaller, paler; corolla 5-9-parted 
almost to the base, spotless. 2/. H. Native of subalpine 
places. 
Var. y, uniflora (D. C. fl. fr. no. 2761.) Stem 1 flower. 
Yellow Asterias or Gentian-root. Fl. June, July. Clt. 1596. 
Pl. 4 to 6 feet. 
2 A. HY'BRIDA ; leaves ovate-lanceolate; corollas 5-8-cleft, 
rotate ; whorls of flowers sessile; calyx membranous, unilateral, 
unequally 6-cleft. 1. H. Native of the alps of Vallais. 
Gentiàna hybrida, D. C. syn. fl. gall. p. 244. no. 2762. fl. fr. 2. 
p.651. no. 2762. G. Thomasii, Vill. mem. pl. hybr. in Roem. 
col. p. 189. G. campanulàta, Reyn. mem. 219. Flowers 
reddish yellow. Supposed to be a hybrid between A. lùtea and 
Coilántha purpurea. 
Hybrid Asterias. Pl. 3 to 4 feet. 
Cult. 'This genus is composed of robust plants, with the 
habit of Veratrum, proper for flower borders. A deep light 
rich soil suits them best, as it allows the roots to ascend. They 
are increased either by seed, or by dividing the root. 
X. COILA/NTHA (from kowoc, koilos, concave, and avoc, 
anthos, a flower ; in reference to the shape of corollas.) Renealm. 
spec. 65. Borkh. in Ram. arch. 1. p. 24.— Gentiàna species, 
Lin. and others.  Dasystéphana, Borkh. 
Lin. syst. Pentándria, Digynia. Calyx spathaceous, truncate, 
scarious, diaphanous, cleft inside, with 6-7 unequal lobes or teeth 
at apex. Corolla large, coriaceous, campanulate, 5-7-cleft ; 
segments broad at the base, obtuse, remote. Stamens 5-7; an- 
thers oblong, combined. Ovarium oblong, pedicellate. Stigma 
bifid, downy, divaricate. Capsule fusiform, with 5-7 tubercles 
at the base, 1-celled. Seeds many, orbicular, with winged edges. 
—Showy plants, with obsoletely tetragonal stems; opposite, 
ovate, 5-nerved, apiculated leaves, which are sheathing at the base. 
Flowers large, on short pedicels: terminal ones disposed in a 
whorl, and the axillary ones solitary. Bracteas opposite, shorter 
than the flowers. 
1 C. runPU'REA (Borkh. in Roem. arch. 1. p. 25.) radical 
leaves ovate, 5-nerved: cauline ones ovate-lanceolate: upperones 
broad-lanceolate, combined and sheathing at the base; corolla 
5-6-cleft ; stamens 5-6 ; calyx membranous, spathaceous. Y. H. 
Native of the alps of Norway, Switzerland, Savoy, Pyrenees, &c. 
Gentiàna purpurea, Lin. spec. p. 637. Willd. spec. 1331. ex- 
clusive of the synonyme of Villars. Woodv. med. bot. 4. p. 132. 
t. 262. Oed. fl. dan. t. 50.  Plenck. off. t. 159. Andr. bot. rep. 
t. 117. Froel. gent. p. 18. no. 2. Pneumonánthe purpürea, Schmidt, 
no. l. Gentiàna punícea, Gesner. Schmidel. op. gesn. 2. p. 52. 
no. 92. a. t. 28. f. 92. A. a. Root yellow outside and white inside, 
scaly at top, very bitter. Stem purplish green. Bracteas ovate 
