GENTIANALS. 1 96 GENTIANWORTS. 
Habitat. Dry gravelly and heavy pastures. 
ity and Uses. As Gentian. It possesses all the essential properties of the Gentian 
of the shops, and although not used professionally is a valuable native medicine. 
In many places it is carefully collected for use in rustic pharmacy. 
Menyantues. Linneus. 
Aistivation of corolla in- 
duplicative. Seeds in the 
middle of each valve. 
1. M. trifoliata Linneus.— 
(Buck Bray.) Fig.266. 
Rhizome creeping ; leaflets 
ternate, entire at thebase; 
corolla bearded. 
Habitat. Swamps. 
Quality. Tonic, astringent; 
cathartic, even emetic, aS 
Uses. Where bitter tonics are 
required, the rhizome, ga : 
thered in August, and also 
the seeds have been 
An occasional substitute for 
hops. All the plant intensely 
bitter. 
Reckoned one of the most valu- 
able of tonics. Large doses 
produce vomiting, purging; 
petic complaints, rheuma- 
tism, dropsy, scurvy, and 
worms. 
VittarsiA. Ventenat. 
1. V. nympheoides Vente 
nat. 
This common wild aqua 
tic possesses pro 
analogous to those of Me- 
nyanthes. 
Fig. 266.—Menyanthes trifoliata ; a, ripe fruit; 4, a cross section of it; ¢, a seed. 
