GENTIANE/E. XLIV. Exacum. 
Kashwa-swa. E. tetragónum, D. Don, prod. fl. nep. p. 128, but 
not of F;xb. Stamens exserted. Flowers large, yellow. 
Hamilton’s Exacum. PI. 1 to 2 feet. 
12 E. surca'ruw (Roxb, fl. ind. 1. p. 415.) erect, branched, 
furrowed on the opposite sides of the stem and branches; leaves 
nearly sessile, lanceolate, fleshy,3-nerved ; flowers terminal, nume- 
rous, trichotomously corymbose; segments furnished each with a 
keel on the back; stamens erect; stigma bifid; capsule globular. 
$.S. Native of Bengal. Sebæ'a sulcàta, Spreng. syst. 1. p. 
426, E. dichótomum, Herb. madr. E. stellatum, Hamilt. 
herb. Root fibrous. Leaves from 1 to 2 inches long. Flowers 
bright blue, those on the forks solitary, and on long pedicels. 
Peduncles 4-sided. Bracteas ovate, recurved. Anthers ovate- 
oblong, connivent. This appears to be intermediate between 
Sebæa and E/xacum, from the bifid stigma. 
Furrowed-stemmed Exacum. PI. 4 to 1 foot. 
Cult. All the species of this genus are very showy when in 
blossom. The seeds should be reared on a hot bed, like those 
of other tender annuals; and about the end of May the plants 
may be planted out in the open border, in a warm, sheltered 
situation; and some of the larger, showy kinds may be planted 
in pots, and otherwise treated like Balsams. 
XLV. MICROCA' LE (from puxpoe, micros, small, and xaXoc, 
kalos, pretty; plants small and very pretty). Link. —E'xacum 
species, Smith.—Gentiana species, Lin. 
‘Lin. syst. Tetrdndria Monogijnia. Calyx divided about 
half way into 4 equal acute segments, permanent. Corolla with 
a swelling tube, length of calyx; and a 4-parted, spreading 
limb; segments equal, imbricate in the bud. Stamens 4, in- 
closed, filiform, erect ; anthers roundish-oblong. Ovarium oval. 
Style filiform, inclining a little, as long as the limb. Stigma 
capitate, undivided. Capsule filling the tube of the corolla, 
which gradually enlarges with it; elliptic, compressed, imper- 
fectly 2-celled. Seeds small, rough, attached to a fixed or 
finally separated double placenta. — Herbaceous, glabrous, 
intensely bitter plants. Leaves simple, entire, and are, as well 
as the branches or flower-stalks, opposite. Flowers terminal, 
yellow, or rose coloured. 
1 M. Fitirérme (Link. 1. c.) stem dichotomous from the bot- 
tom, filiform; leaves chiefly radical, lanceolate, or spatulate, 
1-nerved, sessile; flowers terminal, on long pedicels. ©. H. 
Native of Europe, in sandy, turfy bogs ; in England, in Hamp- 
shire, Devonshire, Cornwall, Dorsetshire, and Sussex, in rotten, 
marshy, sandy, turfy ground; in Ireland, in Dursey Island, 
Cork; in Chili, about Conception. Gentiana filifórmis, Lin. 
spec. 335. With. 263. Oed. fl. dan. 324. Ehrh. phyt. 43. 
E'xacum filiforme, Smith, fl. brit. 182. engl. bot. t. 235. Hook. 
fl. lond. fasc. 2. p. 91. t. 8.—Vaill par. p. 32. t. 6. f. 3. Root 
fibrous. Leaves an inch long. Corollas small, yellow. 
Filiform Microcale. Fl. Ju. July. England. Pl. 1 foot. 
2 M. rurcHE'LLuM ; leaves lanceolate ?; sessile; panicle 
corymbose ; pedicels filiform; calycine segments subulate. ©. 
H. Native of New Jersey, on the sea coast. E’xacum pulchél- 
lum, Pursh, fl. amer. sept. 1. p. 100. Sabbatia pulchella, 
Spreng. syst. 1. p. 581. Flowers rose coloured. Plant resem- 
bling very much the preceding. 
Neat Microcale. Fl. May. Cult. 1826.  Pl.1 foot. 
3 M. pusittum; stem much branched, dichotomous; leaves 
oblong, 3-nerved; peduncles short, crowded; segments of 
corolla connivent. ©. H. Native of Europe, in inundated 
places. Gentiana pusilla, Lam. dict. 2. p. 645. Chirònia 
inapérta, Willd. — E'xacum pusillum, D. C. fl. franc. no. 
Spreng. syst. 1. p. 425.— Vaill. par. t. 6. f. 2. 
Small Microcale. Pl. } foot. 
12 
XLV. Microcare. XLVI. Desronrarnia. 213 
Cult. Sow the seed in a moist situation, in peat earth, or 
in pots, which should be kept moist, by being placed in pans of 
water. 
Tribe III, 
DESFONTAINIE"E. Calyx 4-5-parted ; segments nearly 
equal, obtuse, cartilaginous, nerved, imbricate in cestivation. 
Corolla tubular, cartilaginous, 5-nerved ; nerves running through 
the axis of the segments; limb 4-5-lobed: lobes very veiny, 
roundish, retuse, with ciliated edges, imbricate in estivation. 
Stamens 4-5, inclosed, glabrous, combined with the tube of the 
corolla nearly their whole length, free at apex, thick convex on 
one side and flat on the other; anthers erect, innate 2-celled : 
cells linear, parallel, separated by narrow intervals, inserted in a 
large fleshy connective (continuation of the filaments), which is 
shorter than them, dehiscing longitudinally. Ovarium globose, 
l-celled; ovula very numerous, horizontal, without order, ad- 
nate to septiform placentas. Style filiform, glabrous; stigma 
capitate. Berry globose, 1-celled, many-seeded. ^ Placentas 
4-5, parietal, hence the berry appears many-celled ; free from 
the inner margin; thickened, trigonal, having reflexed, seminife- 
rous sides. Column none. Seeds numerous, disposed without 
order, erect, obovate, ventricose, angular; furnished with an 
umbilicus at the base, a dark brown dilated chalaza at apex, 
and a prominent, calious raphe on the inner side. Outer testa 
coriaceous, fulvous, full of pellucid dots: inner one membra- 
nous, paler, adhering to the nucleus. Albumen copious, fleshy, 
white. Embryo very minute, roundish, milk coloured, erect in 
the umbilical end of the seed, with very short cotyledons, and 
a thick, very blunt radical.— Evergreen shrubs, natives of South 
America, having a very bitter taste. Leaves opposite, petiolate, 
spinosely toothed: petioles articulated with the branches. 
Flowers terminal, solitary, pedunculate; peduncles bibracteate. 
Corollas scarlet, with a yellow limb. Berries white. 
Some groups of plants exist in whose external features there 
is nothing that can lead to a knowledge of their affinities ; and 
among these may be ranked the remarkable genus under con- 
sideration. From observing the similarity in the disposition of 
the veins of the calyx and corolla, and the consistence of these 
organs, as well as the nervation and dentation of the leaves, I 
was led to conclude that it might be allied to Theophrdsta; but 
a closer examination did not confirm that conjecture ; although 
from remarking the nature of the albumen, and the structure 
and position of the embryo, I was afterwards induced to com- 
pare it with the Gentiànece, to which family I am now fully per- 
suaded it must be referred, notwithstanding its toothed leaves, 
and the greater number of its placente.—D. Don, in edinb. 
phil. journ. July, Sept. 1831. 
XLVI. DESFONTA'NIA (for derivation see Fontanésia, 
p. 51. of the present volume.) Ruiz, et Pav. fl. per. syst. 1. p. 
59. fl. per. 2. p. 47. t. 186. gen. t. 5. Humb. et Bonpl. pl. 
æquin. 1. p. 157. t. 45. H. B. et Kunth. nov. gen. amer. 7. p. 
274. syn. 4. p. 207. D. Don, in edin. phil. journ. July, Sept. 
1831.—Línkia Pers. ench. 1. p. 219. 
Lin. svsr. — Tetra-Pentándria Monogynia. 
same as that of the tribe. 
1 D. spinosa (Ruiz, et Pav. l. c.) calycine segments lingulate, 
and are, as well as the leaves, glabrous. h.G. Native of 
Peru, in forests, at Churupallana, l'arma, and betwixt Munna and 
Pozuzo, Ruiz, et Pav. ; and on the Andes of Quindiu, and in 
Parama de Almaguer, Humb. et Bonpl. D. spléndens, Humb. 
et Bonpl. pl. æquin. amer. 1. p. 157. t. 45. H. B. et Kunth, 
nov. gen. 7. p. 274. Linkia Peruviàna, Pers. ench. 1. p. 219. 
An erect, much branched, evergreen, glabrous shrub. Leaves 
elliptic-oblong, coriaceous, glabrous, shining above, cuneated, 
Character the 
