56 



GENTIANE^. [Gentiana. 



scabris, floribus aggregatis subsessilibus bracteatis, calycis integri lobis tubo brevioribus, 

 corollse cyanese plica fisso-subbiloba lobos corollse obliteratos excedente, antheris connatis, 

 seminibus late alatis. G. Saponaria, FroeL p, 32 [excL synon,) NutL I./?. 172. Elliott^ 

 \, p, 339. Becky p, 239. — ^. linearis; foliis anguste lanceolatis, calycis lobis tubum sub- 

 aequuantibus, caule asperisculo. G. Catesbsei. Andrews Bot. Rep, 6. t 418. Aitmi HorL 

 Kew. 2. jD, 112. 



Hab. Both forms occur in Canada. Mr. Cleghom, Lake Huron. Dr. Todd, — It is indeed with regret 

 that I must apply a new name to a plant so well known and widely dispersed ; but it seemed necessary to 

 call that plant of Linnaeus which has been proved to be identical with that of Walter G, Saptmaria* The 

 confusion of these species arose from Froelich's Monograph, who confounded this species with G, Sapo- 

 naria of Linnaeus, of which he knew only the yariety /3 ; but that did not agree with Linnaeus's diagnosis, 

 and was therefore described by him as a new species. The confusion increased, when Michaux took the 

 G. ochroleuca for Linnaeus' G. Saponaria, The G, puberula of the former is now a doubtful synonym, 

 all species of this group being occasionally rough. If Pursh was right in referring it to G, linearis, F., it 

 belongs to G. Saponaria^ L., and would differ from G. Pneumonanihe, Mich, merely by the form of the 

 plica ; but as G. Andrewsii is the commoner plant of the two, it is probable that Michaux designated by his 

 G,pubemla the variety /3. of the latter, in which case his name should be adopted. It is desirable that this 

 question should be determined by the inspection of Michaux's herbarium. Pursh does not seem to have 

 well examined these species, as he quotes for his G. Saponaria the plates as well of Andrews as of Sims, 

 He may have considered both the narrow- leaved varieties as one species, viz. his G. linearis, and the chief 

 forms of both species as belonging to a second. This makes indeed the synonym of G. puberula Mich, 

 the more doubtful : the corolla in both forms is described by Pursh in the same way, and indeed most un- 

 satisfactorily. The best description of G, Andrewsii has been published by ElHott. 



3. G, ochroleuca {FroeL) ; caule ascendente, foliis ovato-lanceolatis obovatisque margine 



scabriusculis, floribus terminalibus aggregatis sessilibus bracteatis, calycis integri lobis in- 



asqualibus tubum aequantibus, corollae ocliroleucje lobis ovatis obtusis, plica Integra acuta 



brevissima, antheris liberis, seminibus exalaris\ — G. major virginiana. Plukn, aim, 166. t. 



186./- 1.— G. villosa. i. sp. pL 1. p, 330.— 6. Saponaria. WalLp. 109. Mich. 1. p. 176. 



G- ochroleuca. FroeL p, 35. Purshy \,p. 185, Elliot^ 1./?. 340. iJecA, p. 239. Sims, 

 BoL Mag. 1531. 



Hab. Canada. Mr. Goldie, Grows in sandy fields. — The two preceding species prefer a fat and 

 somewhat humid soil. It is remarkable how much the form of the leaves varies in these species. The 

 most frequent form of G, ochroleuca is perhaps an obovate leaf, but the broadest part is also very often 

 near its base; I have seen many specimens with cordato-lanceolate lea'ves. Muhlenberg, however, sent 

 to Willdenow a specimen, the leaves of which are almost orbicular. It never occurs so narrow-leaved as 

 the varieties of the preceding species, but generally the form of the foliage is analogous to that of G, Sapo- 

 naria, while G. Andrewsii has commonly longer and narrower leaves, the broadest part of which is near 

 their base. With respect to the similar variableness of the corolla, see the excellent observations of Sir 

 W. Hooker, in the Companion to the Bot. Mag. I. c. 



* # 



Corolla sensim ampliata aperta. 



4. G. affinis (Griseb.); caule ascendente, foliis margine scabris inferioribus obovato- 

 oblongis obtusis, superioribus lanceolatis acutiusculis, floribus subsolitarii soppositis pedi- 



