246 FLORA HISTORIC.*. 



GENTIAN. Gentiana. 



Natural Order Rotacece. Gentiana, Juss. A Genus 

 of the Pentandria Digynia Class. 



Scarce any plant is growing here, 



Which against death some weapon does not bear. 



Cowley. 



It is now about two thousand years since the 

 medicinal virtues of this bitter plant were dis- 

 covered by Gentius, King of Illyricum, who after- 

 wards drank so deeply of the bitter cup of fortune. 

 This monarch having broken the most sacred laws 

 of nations, by imprisoning the ambassadors sent to 

 his court by the Romans, it so roused the resent- 

 ment of that warlike people, that they invaded his 

 kingdom ; and being conquered by Anicius, both 

 himself and family were led in triumph through 

 the streets of Rome. 



In justice to this royal botanist the plant was 

 called Gentiana by the Latins, and it is now the 

 universal name, wherever the European languages 

 are known; and, indeed, it would not be inappro- 

 priate to add this flower to the heraldic arms of all 

 ambassadors whilst in office, as a memento that 



