276 ORD. XV. Rotacee. CHIRONIA CENTAURIUM,. 
‘THE root is annual, woody, fibrous, and of a yellowish colour: 
the stalk is erect, with few branches, smooth, angular, and usually 
rises from six to ten inches in height: the leaves are opposite, 
sessile, smooth, oblong, ribbed, obtusely pointed: the flowers are 
terminal, produced in a corymbus or bunch, and are of a pink or 
rose colour: the calyx is divided into five narrow erect permanent 
segments: the corolla is funnel-shaped, the tube of which is cylin- 
iat: longer than the calyx, and divided at the limb into five ege- 
shaped segments: the filaments are five, white, slender, shorter thaw 
the corolla, and furnished with yellow oblong anther, which 
finally become twisted: the germen is oblong, green, supplied 
with a simple style, which is crowned with a clubbed stigma. Jt 
grows in woods and pastures, and flowers in July. 
As the botanical description of this plant corresponds exactly 
with that of the genus chironia,* we have followed several respec- 
table botanists, and separated it from the gentians, with which it 
was originally classed by Linnzus. 
‘© The active parts of this plant are dissolved readily both by 
water and rectified spirit: the herb, after infusion in sufficient 
‘quantities of either. menstruum, remaining insipid. Water takes 
up along with the bitter a large quantity of an insipid mucilagi- | 
nous substance, whereas rectified spirit seems to dissolve little more 
than the pure bitter part. Hence on inspissating the two solutions 
to the same consistences, the watery extract proves much less bitter 
than the spirituous, and its quantity above four times greater.” * 
Centaury is justly esteemed to be the most efficacious bitter of 
all the medicinal plants indigenous to this country. It has been 
recommended as a substitute for gentian,” and, by several, thought 
* It is aptly observed by Mr. Curtis, that Centaurium thus assumes its proper 
Name xewravpiov, from Chiron the Centaur. See Plin. L. 25. c. 6. p. 
* Lewis, M. M. 
_* “ It is said that the extract of this plant is less agreeable than that of gentian ; 
but I find no difference between them, and think it should be constantly substituted 
for that of gentian, as it may be more cheaply saga —Gullen, M. Mv vol. ii. 
p- 74. 
