272 ORD. XV. Rotacee. GENTIANA PURPUREA, 
‘large, purple, standing in whorls, upon-short peduncles. Calyx 
a deciduous spatha. Corollabell-shaped, purplish, plicated, divided 
at the limb into five ovate dotted segments. Filaments commonly 
five, of the-length of the germen, and furnished with conicab 
anthere. Germén oblong. Style cleft, points reflexed, furnished 
with blunt stigmata. Capsule ovate, two-celled, containing nume- 
rous small seeds, __ 
It is a native of the Alps, and was first introduced for cultivation 
in this country by Professor de Saussure in 1768.* 
. The annexed plate is given on the authority of the Edinburgh 
Pharmacopeeia, in which the Cursuta, or root of this plant, has been 
lately received into the Materia Medica. 
This root, both in appearance and taste, so exactly resembles 
that of the yellow or common officinal Gentian, that they are not 
to be distinguished from each other; and in some northern coun- 
tries, where the latter is scarce, the dernier is epsually employed in 
its stead.” 
Its medical character is therefore to be regarded as the same with 
that of the gentiana lutea, of which an- account is given in the 
eee tea 
“= "8 See Hort, Kew. i. p. 222. 
* See Linn. Flor. Suec. & Haller. 1. c. 
The remaining medicinal plants of the order Rotacez, are, 
Systematic Names.  » Orricrnat, ENGLIs#. 
Anagallis arvensis Anagallis Pimpernel 
Lysimachia Nummularia Nummularia _ Money-wort 
riniula veris Paralysis Cowslip 
Cyclamen europeuim Cyclamen : - Common Cyclamen 
