G E N T I A N A vema. 

 Spring Gentian. 



Class and Order. — Pentandria Digynia, 

 Syn. Gentiana verna. E)ig. Bot. pi. 493. 

 — Gentiana verna. Curt. Bot. Mag. pi. 491. 



Root fibrous, creeping— stem procumbent, leafy, — leaves sessile, oval, acute, 

 opposite, clustered near the root — flowers terminal — calyx five cleft, 

 acute — corolla brilliant blue, monopetalous, tube long, limb spreading, 

 divided into five segments, obtuse, undulate, fringed between the 

 segments — stamens five, enclosed in the tube of the corolla — style 

 simple, stigmas two, so closely situated as to give the appearance of a 

 small white circle in the centre of the flower. 



^M— 



This beautiful little plant is well ascertained to be a native of 

 England and Ireland. According- to English Botany, p. 49 — it was 

 first gathered in Teesdale Forest, Durham, where it is still obtained for 

 the pui-jjoses of sale in London, and other places; — it is also a native 

 of the Alps of Switzerland, where we are told the large patches of it 

 produce a brilliant and striking effect : — it is perfectly hardy, but 

 requires a pui'e air, and succeeds best in bog-soil — from its low growth 

 and general habit, it is well adapted to ornament rock work, and from 

 the shelter there afforded, it will begin to flower as early as March, 

 and continue in beauty some time — it may be increased by parting the 

 roots early in the Autumn : — the Gentiana lutea, is celebrated for its 

 medicinal properties, and is a handsome herbaceous plant ; the other 

 desirable species are 



G. crinita. purpurea. 



— asclepedia. septemfida. 



— saponaria. acaulis. 



— alpiua. pneunomanthe. 



PI. 13. 



