JUN 23 1923 
Lia 
Rhodora 
JOURNAL OF 
THE NEW ENGLAND BOTANICAL CLUB 
Vol. 25. June, 1923. No. 294. 
THE GENTIAN OF THE TIDAL SHORES OF THE 
ST. LAWRENCE. 
M. L. FERNALD. 
(Plate 139.) 
In describing Gentiana ciliata of the European mountains, a 
characteristic species of the Alps with linear-lanceolate leaves and 
large blue corollas with ciliate lobes, Linnaeus gave the range: “ Habt- 
tat in Helvetiae, Italiae, Canadae montibus.”! The description and 
references indicate clearly the European plant, so that there has never 
been any doubt regarding the true identity of G. ciliata; but no Fringed 
Gentian has ever been known from the “mountains of Canada” 
[of Linnaeus’s time, i. e. presumably Quebec]. Consequently, there 
has been doubt as to what Canadian plant Linnaeus saw which could 
have been confused with the European G. ciliata, described “ angusti- 
folia" and “ corollis quadrifidis margine ciliatis.” The New Englander 
naturally thinks of G. crinita but that species has the upper leaves 
ovate or ovate-lanceolate and broadly rounded or subcordate at 
base and Linnaeus would hardly have identified it with the narrow- 
leaved G. ciliata. Furthermore, in his herbarium, as shown by 
memoranda made at various times by Asa Gray, Linnaeus had G. 
crinita set apart as a distinct species though under an unpublished 
name. 
In 1860 the late Dr. Charles Pickering collected at Quebec & 
gentian which was identified by Dr. Gray in the Synoptical Flora as 
G. serrata Gunn., a Scandinavian plant which it somewhat suggests, 
and to which Gray referred a large number of American plants now 
1 L. Sp. Pl. ed. 2: 334 (1762). 
