CLASS V. ORDER II.] GENTIANA. 337 



pointed base to the placenta, formed by the incurved margin of the 

 valves. 



Habitat.— Moist heaths and damp places, in various parts of 

 England. 



Perennial ; flowering from July to September. 



This species is used in Russia for the same purposes that the 

 Gentiana lutea is with us, and possesses similar tonic properties, useful 

 in many debiliiated states of the system, its infusion forming one of 

 our most elegant bitters. Specimens are not unfrequently found with 

 the leaves two or three times wider tlian in the normal slate of the 

 plant, and having a mid-rib and two lateral ones, a circumstance 

 which has induced the belief in some persons of their being different 

 species, and not a variety only. 



** Flowers terminal, solitary, with five large and Jive small segments, 

 the mouth naked, 



3. G. ver'na, Linn, (Fig. 405.) Spring Gentian. Stem single 

 flowered ; calyx of five narrow winged angles ; the larger segments of 

 the corolla obtuse and crenated ; style undivided ; stigmas semi- 

 orbicular ; leaves ovate, crowded. 



English Botany, f. 493. — English Flora, vol. ii. p. 29. — Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 125. — Lindley, Synopsis, p. 178. 



Roots slender, with creeping branches putting out fibrous roots and 

 tufts of leaves, from amidst which arise the flowering stems. Leaves 

 numerous, ovate, acute, sessile, the lower ones crowded in a rosette 

 manner, those of the stem opposite, slightly sheathing at the base, each 

 with a single rib, somewhat fleshy, quite smooth. Stem very short, 

 square, bearing a solitary terminal flower. Calyx tubular, of five 

 acute more or less broadly winged angles, each terminating in the 

 mid-rib of five lanceolate segments, shorter than the tube of the 

 corolla; at the base of the calyx are several small leaves or bracteas. 

 Flower salver-shaped, the tube of the corolla cylindrical, yellowish 

 above, green below, plaited and veiny, twice as long as the calyx, 

 the limo of five ovate, obtuse, or acute spreading more or less crenated 

 segments, and between these are five small deeply cloven ones, the 

 limb is about half an inch across, of a dark brilliant blue, the mouth 

 naked. Stamens on short filaments from the middle of the tube. 

 Aiithers oblong, of two cells, united around the upper part of the style, 

 which is single. Stigmas of two semi-orbicular crenated lobes. 

 Capsule oblong, of two valves. Seeds numerous. 



Habitat. — Mountainous and alpine pastures ; rare. Middleton in 

 Teesdale, Durham, plentiful. Burrow Mountains, near Gort, and 

 between Gort and Galway, Ireland. 



Perennial ; flowering in April. 



This beautiful little flower is far more frequent in the alpine districts 



