58 



GENTIANEiE. [Gentiana 



vix a?quantes. 2-3-flori. floribus subsessilibus in involucro duarum bractearum, (raro l-flori, flore bibrac- 

 teato.) Flores oblique erecti, Sepala foliacea, distuntia, inajqualia, ovata lanceolataque, unclam longa» 

 membrana intracalycina duplo breviori. Corolla fere biuncialis, ex basi attenuata sensim ainpliata, lobis 

 erectis late ovatis, obtusiusculis, tubo quinquies brevioribus, plica truncata 1. breviter triangulari. Stamina 

 tubo breviora, antheris incumbentibus sagittatis. Germen oblongo-lineare, utriuque attcnuatum, st^'lo recto 

 longiusculo. Capsula elliptico-oblonga, in stipitem seque longum attenuata, stigmatibus duobus crassis 

 atris reflexis coronata, coroUam marcescentem auctam sequans. Semina oblonga, flavo-brunnea, testa 

 grosse areolata, altero latere tenuissitne alata, altero exalata, apice et basi processu alaeforrai instructa. 



Hab. Plentiful in low moist soil near Fort Vancouver. Mr. Douglas, Swamps in woods near the Co- 

 lumbia River. Dr. Gairdner. — This is one of the most beautiful and distinct species of the genus ; it has 

 no resemblance whatever with any individual of the group Cyane, and stands nearer, as regards habit, 

 the group of CcB/an/ftc,Ren., to which belong G. pwrpwrca, L. and some other species : it is especially 

 like a new one of that group from Kamschatka, but differs from all of them by the long-stalked capsules. 

 The singular inflorescence contributes much to elucidate the pseudo-verticilli of G. lutea, L. 



Tab. CXLV. — Fig, 1, Flower laid open ; — 7iat size, 



1, G. platypetala (Griseb.); caule ascendente, foliis abbreviatis ovato-subrotnndis, flore 

 unico terminali sessilij calycis integri lobis ovatis acuminatis, corolla? cserulese lobis renifor- 

 mibus mucronatis plicam triangularetn integerrimam duplo superantibusj antheris liberis. 



Radix repens, annulis densis obsessa, superne foliorum emarcidorum vestigiis tecta. Caules plures ex 

 eadem radice, spitharaei, inferne nudi, superne dense foliosi. Folia ovato-subrotundal, ovato-oblonga (8''' 

 longa) internodia superantia. Flos in folia suprema immersus. Calyx patulus, 5-fidus, rubicundus, corolla 

 duplo brevior, sepalis membrana intracalycina basi connexis. Corolla basi lata, sensim ampliata, unciam 

 longa ; lobi erecti, vix 2'" longi, ex basi angustiori dilatatl, apice fere truncati, cuspidato-mucronati, 

 medio latiores quam longi. Plica acutissima. Genitalia tubo multo breviora. Aniher<B incumbentes. 

 Ovarium elliptico-lineare, Capsula elliptico-oblonga. 



Hab. In the island of Sitcha, where it was found during the second expedition of Capt. Kotzebue. 1 

 have seen specimens in the herbarium of Chamisso, and am not aware that it has been as yet described 

 by Russian botanists. — This constitutes, together with the two following species, a small, but very re- 

 markable and distinct group. Their general appearance is similar to G. septemjida^ Pall.; they have 

 a thick and creeping root, often marked by singular rings, formed by concentric ruptures of the 

 epidermis ; — these gradually loosen, and afterwards become contracted ; the stem is low and ascending, 

 sometimes more than one grows from the same root ; their leaves are short, roundish, and bent downwards ; 

 the flowers have no peduncle whatever, they are always solitary at the summit of the stem, the calyx be- 

 ing hi immediate connexion with the uppermost leaves ; the seeds seem to be angular and not winged ; at 

 least such is the case in G, calycosa, 



8. G. calycosa (Griseb.); caule ascendente, foliis abbreviatis ovato-1. cordato-subrotun- 

 dis margine scabriusculis, floribus solitariis terminalibus sessilibus, calyce integro, lobis 

 latissime foliaceis insequalibus, corolte cserulese lobis ovato-oblongis acutis, plica multifida, 

 antheris demum liberis. (Tab. CXLVI.) — ^.stricta; caulibus csespitosis, strictissimis, 

 simplicissimis, foliis acutioribus duplo brevioribus internodia aequantibus, radice fasclcu- 

 lata, hinc annulata, 



Radix repens, crassa, nigra, absque annulis, Caules csespitosi, sequales, laxi, spithamei, basi squamis 

 involiiti, teretes, sulcato-striati, slmplices 1. parce ramosi, ramis alternis flexuosis cauli similibus. Inter- 

 nodia uncialia, superiora paullum longiora. Folia iniima squamseformia, ovata, obtusa, conuato-vaginantia: 



