SCROPHOLARIACEi, 265 GERARDIA. 



ornamental and showy plant of the woods, well worthy a place in the flower 



farden. It has a tall, stnooth, glaucous, branching stem 3 — 5 feet high, 

 leaves sinuate-pinnatifid ; the upper ones only cut-dentate, all acute at each 

 end, stalked, paler beneath. Flowers large and of a brilliant yellow, opposite 

 and axillary, near the top of the stem, forming a loose spike. Corolla 

 trumpet-shaped. The flowers resemble in form those of the foxglove, while 

 the leaves may be likened to those of the oak. The whole plant turns black 

 in drying, making but a shabby appearance in the herbarium. Aug. Per. 



Oak-leaved Gerard'ui. 



2. G. fla'va. 



Pubescent ; stem nearly simple ; leaves sessile, lanceolate, entire or cut- 

 dentate ; _^oJocrs subsessile. Scarcely less elegant than the last, which it 

 nmch resembles. Native of woods. Stem 2 — 3 feet high, erect, pubescent. 

 Lower leaves variously pinnatifid, or cut and toothed; upper ones very 

 entire or toothed, obtuse ; all opposite and sessile. Flowers largo, yellow, 

 oppiisite, axillary, trumpet-shaped. This also with the next species, turns 

 black m drying. Aug. Sept. Per. Yellow Gerardia. 



3. G. pedicula'ria. 



S^cjn panicled, pubescent ; Zc<xce5 oblong, pinnatifid, the segments serrate ; 

 calyx segments leafy, cut-dentate. One of the most elegant species, found in 

 woods and mountains. St(Mn tall and bushy, 2 — 3 feet high, covered with a 

 scattered, woolly pubescence. Leaves numerous, pinnatifid with serrate 

 lobes, opposite, on short, hairy stalks. Flowers large. Corolla trumpet- 

 shaped, ye low, with roundish, spreading, leaflike segments. The leaves 

 liave the general appearance of those of the lousewort, or some of the ferns. 

 Aug. Per. Lousewort Gtrardia. 



* * Flowers purple. 



4. G. purpu'rea. 



Stem angular, much branched ; leaves linear, narrow, acute ; flowers sub- 

 sessile, scattered ; calyx segments subulate. Found in wet pastures and 

 swamps. Stem slender, branching, erect, smooth, obtuse-angled, 1 — 2 feet 

 high. Leaves entire, roughish, 8 — 15 lines long and about 2 lines wide. 

 Flowers large, axillary, often opposite, purple, on very short stalks. Aug. 

 Ann. Purple Gerardia. 



5. G. mari'tima. 



■S'fcm angular ; leaves linear, fleshy, short, rather obtuse ; j?02oer.s stalked; 

 calyx truncate ; upper segments of the corolla, fringed. Native of salt marshes. 

 This species resembles the foregoing, of which Pursh describes it as a varie- 

 ty. It is a smaller plant G — 12 inches in hight, and with smaller flowers. 

 The leaves are shorter and thicker. The calyx segments are cut square oft', 

 not acute as in the preceding. Corolla purple. Flower stalks axillary and 

 terminal. July — Sept. Ann. Salt Marsh Gerardia. 



6. G. TENUIFO'LIA. 



Branching; leaves linear; peduncles axillary, longer than the flowers; 

 cahjx ice</t short, acute. A slender and delicate species, usually very branch- 

 ing, but I have specimens, gathered in various localities, Ms. andN. H., which 

 are quite simple. Leaves about an inch long, very narrow (scarcely a line 

 in width), entire, rough, obtuse. Flowers opposite, axillary, on slender stalks 

 an inch or more in length. Corolla purple, spotted within, the border much 

 spreading, smooth and nearly equal. Calyx teeth short and acute. Grows by 

 roadsides and in sandy soils, G — 12 inches high. Aug. Sept. Ann. 



Slender-leaved Gerardia. 



X 



