S40 PENTANDBIA DIGYNIA. 





inserted into its tube. Anthers erect, sagittate. Germ superior 

 Stigmas % short, reflected^ Seed compressed, slightlj' winged- 



Grows in ditches, and along the margins of rivulets* Common in 

 the low country of Carolina and Georgia. ^ 



Flowers October. 



3. OCHROLEUCA. 



G. glaberiima ; foliis I Very glabrous ; leaves 

 lanceolatis obovatisqiie ; [ lanceolate and obovate ; 

 calycis laciniis foliaceis, 1 segments of ^^ calyx 

 corollam fere jequanti- j leaf like, nearly as Ion 

 bus ; coroUse limbo sub- I as the corolla ; corolla 

 connivente, plicis interio- | with the border slightly 

 ribus brevibus, obliquis^ j connivent, the Interior 

 ^subdentatis. E. | segments short, obhque, 



I irregularly toothed. 



Sp. pi. 1. p. 558. Pursh, 1. p. 185 ? 

 G. aaponaria, Walt. p. 109. 



Perennial. Stevi herbaceous, simple, nearly terete, glabrous, one 

 foot high. Leaves lanceolate, very entire, nearly coriaceous, very 

 fimooth, with the margins roughened j lower leaves sometimes, per- 

 haps from accident, obovate obtuse. Flowers opposite, sometimes 

 crowded as if verticillate, on peduncles not one line long. Segments 

 of the calyx linear lanceolate. Corolla nearly white, streaked with 

 green and purple. Seeds numerous, ovate. 



This plant is scarcely the G. ochroleuca of Pursh. Michaux ap- 

 pears to have mingled this and the two preceding species under his 

 G. saponaria. To Dr. Macbride I have been much indebted for aid 

 in removing the obscurity which hung over these species. 



Grows in dry soils j not very common. 

 Flowers September — October. Sampson^s snake root. 



Gentiana ochroleuca and Catesbei These plants are indiscrimi-* 

 nately called ^^ Sampson^ s Snake-root. ^^ They .ire both of them ex- 

 cellent bitter tonics, but the G. Catesbei seems to be more particular- 

 Iv entitled to notice. The other is apt to nauseate. In the form of 

 oecoction, the G. Catesbei is used with decided advantage in cases of 

 pneumonia where the fever is nervous. It acts as a tonic and sudo- 

 rific. In tincture it is deservedly esteemed as a remedy for dyspepsia.^ 

 For this purpose the saturated spirituous tincture is given in doses of 

 i or i of an ounce, half an hour before dinner. TKe quantity is grad- 

 ually increased. The immediate effect is a general and pleasurable 

 ";low of the skin, and increase of appetite. It prevents the acidifica- 

 ion of the food, and enables the stomach to bear and digest articles 

 of diet which before produced oppression and dejection of spirits. 



The root is the only part used. 



