Gentianea.] THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS. 277 
species occur in Europe and the colder parts of Asia. Gentiana, Pneumonanthe, and 
Ericala, Don, are the other genera inhabiting the Himalayas, as well as the coldest parts 
of Europe, North America, and Siberia: the first is also found in Ludak, in New Zealand, 
Van Diemen’s Land; and with Ericala, in the Andes of Peru and Quito. Of the 
last genus, as constituted by Mr. Don, species are however found in the hot parts of 
India; as EZ. orbiculata in the Peninsula, and E. decemjida in the Kheree Pass. Halenia 
is found in Siberia and the Himalayas, the United States, the Andes of Peru and 
Quito: Mr. Don states that they are perennials in the southern, and annuals in the 
northern hemisphere. 
In addition to Erythrea, the genus Mitrasacme belongs to both the Indian and New 
Holland Floras, a species of the latter having been found by Dr. Wallich in Nepal. The 
genus Mitreola occurs both in the Malayan Peninsula and Lower Assam. 
The Menyanthee are sometimes separated as a small family, and are distinguished 
by being alternate leaved, as is Swertia alternifolia, nob. Here, as in other aquatic 
genera, we find the same species in every part of India, as Villarsia indica and cristata: 
a European species, V. nymphaoides, extends even to the lake of Cashmere. 
Many of the same species spread all along the Himalayas, as several of Dr. Wallich’s 
exist also in the author’s collection. Several are highly ornamental, as Swertia speciosa, 
Wall., which spreads from Nepal to Cashmere. So are also S. cuneata, Wall., S. alterni- 
folia, cerulea, and petiolata, nob., with Gentiana Kurroo, and the species of Crawfurdia. 
The Chirata, found in the Morung mountains, in Nepal, and in Kemaon, referred by 
Dr. Roxburgh to Gentiana, by Dr. Hamilton to Swertia (Wall. Pl. As. Rar. t. 252), 
formed into a new genus, Henricea (Bull. Soc. Philom. 1824), has been referred by 
Mr. Don to his Agathotes. With it also he has united a purple-flowered variety, or 
species (Swertia purpurea, nob., Ic. ined. 254, fig. 2), which is common on the Mussooree 
range. A. (Swertia, nob.) alata, Don, is a species from the Choor mountain. 
The plants of this family are so well known for their uniform and extreme bitterness, 
that it is unnecessary to say more than that the Indian species afford no exception to 
the rule. The Chiretta or Chirayita contains malic acid, bitter extractive and resinous 
matter, gum, and some salts (v. Fée; and Battley in Wall. |.c.); it is much valued in 
India both by European and native practitioners for its tonic and febrifugal virtues, as 
it answers every purpose of Gentiana lutea. The cold infusion is recommended by 
Drs. Fleming and Wallich. Several other species may be substituted for it. Ophelia 
(Swertia, Wall.) angustifolia, Don, is so in Northern India, and called puharee (hill) 
chiretta, to distinguish it from the true or dukhunee (southern) chiretta. Exacum tetra- 
gonum is called ooda (purple) chiretta. The species of Canscora are all bitter, as is 
Erythrea Roxrburghii, Don (Chironia centauroides, Roxb.) 
It has lately been contended by M.Guibourt, as indeed from their references it 
seems to have been considered by many old authors, that Chiretta is the Calamus 
aromaticus of the ancients. Considering that this is described by Theophrastus and 
, Dioscorides 
