oo GENTIANACEZ. 
evaporation of the alcoholic tincture of the seeds acidulated 
with sulphuric acid, a beautiful violet coloration was deve- 
loped on the sides of the capsule; we also obtained a similar 
reaction with Nux-vomica seeds. Phosphoric acid, however, 
failed to afford this coloration, and it was not afforded either 
by hydrochloric or acetic acids 
GENTIANACE. 
GENTIANA DAHURICA. Fisch. 
_ Fig,—Act. Soc. Nat. Ser. Mos. iii., 63. Syn.—G. Olivieri, 
Griseb. 
Hab.—Persia. The flowering tops. 
Vernacular —Gul-i-ghafis (Indian bazars). 
History, Uses, &c.—Ibn Sina and the Eastern dikes 
and Persians adopted a Persian plant called Ghafat as re- 
presenting the Eupatorion of the Greeks. This plant is still “a . 
in India under the name of Ghifith or Ghafis. (fa Nel ds 
582). It is described in the Burh4n-i-katia as a plant one alk 
in height, having a long blue flower and a very bitter taste. 
The entire plant i is not aeibeqnoutiy to be found in parcels of — 
the drug which arrive from Persia, Aitchison (Bot. of the 
a. Del. Com., p. 88,) speaking of @. Olivieri, says :— 4 
“In great uxuriance on the sandy downs of the Bédghis, 
part of the sward along with several Carices, Thisis 
sdly; as. Boissier remarks, the Gentian of the hot 
conniey. ; Ttisin such ‘profusion, that when in flower it gives a 
. bese > colouring,” » downs.” We are informed that it is 
ul-kealli i by t the Persian peasants from its being used to 
ingworm of the scalp in children.. Indian _ 
tan pl ysicians describe Ghéfis as having 
g blue flowers, &c.} the 
