GENTIANA ACAULIS. 



Stemless Gentian, or Gentianella. 



PeNTANDRIA. DlGYNIA. 



Class 5. Order 2. 



Gentiaxa. From Gentius (king of lUyria), who is said to have dis- 

 covered it, or at least to have first experienced its virtues as a cure 

 for the plague vi'hich infected his army. 



Linn. gen. n. 322. Linn, spec. 330. Linn. syst. 267- 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Cal. Perianth five-parted, sharp, oblong, permanent. Cor. Petal one, 

 tubular at bottom, at top five-cleft. Stam. Filaments five, shorter 

 than the corolla. Pist. Germ oblong, cylindric, length of the 

 stamens. Style none. Stigmas two, ovate. Per. Capsule oblong, 

 one-celled, two-valved. Seeds numerous. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



Flowers solitary. Corolla five-cleft/ bell-shaped, higher than the 

 stalk. 



Root branched. Leaves ovate-lanceolate. Stem from one 

 to two inches in height, with one or two pairs of leaves ; a 

 large solitary flower at the extremity. Calyx angular, di- 

 vided at top, five lanceolate segments. Corolla monopela- 

 lous, deep blue, dotted inside. 



