Erythraea. 731 
88. Gentianaceae. 
Calyx of 4 or 5, rarely more, lobes or segments. Corolla 
usually regular, with 4 or 5, rarely more, lobes, contorted or other- 
wise imbricate or induplicate in the bud. Stamens as many as 
corolla-lobes and alternate with them, inserted in the tube. Anthers 
versatile, with 2 parallel cells opening longitudinally or in terminal 
pores. Ovary 1-celled, but with 2 parietal placentas often projecting 
into the cavity so as partially to divide it into 2 or 4 cells, or 
rarely completely 2-celled; ovules numerous; style single, entire or 
with 2 short stigmatic lobes. Fruit a capsule, opening septicidally 
in 2 valves or rarely indehiscent or succulent. Seeds small, with 
a fleshy albumen. Embryo small, straight, with short cotyledons. 
— Herbs, very rarely in species not Egyptian, shrubs, usually 
glabrous and bitter. Leaves opposite and entire in one tribe, alter- 
nate or clustered in an other. Stipules none. Flowers usually in 
cymes or corymbose panicles, rarely clustered or solitary. 
The Order is chiefly abundant in the temperate or mountainous regions 
of the northern hemisphere, with a few tropical or southern species. 
418. Erythraea Linn. 
Calyx tubular, shortly 5-cleft. Corolla-tube long or short; lobes 
5, rarely 4, spreading, contorted. Stamens inserted in the corolla- 
tube; filaments filiform; anthers twisted. Ovary 1-celled; placentas 
much inflexed; style subulate; stigma 2-lobed. Capsule oblong, 
septicidally 2-valved. Seeds numerous, minute, foveolate. — Annual 
or perennial herbs. Leaves sessile or amplexicaul. Flowers in 
terminal dichotomous cymes, asually pink. 
Species numerous, principally inhabiting the north temperate zone, but 
extending to Australia and Chili. 
A. Corolla pink; style undivided. 
I. Flowers solitary. 
a) Leaves oblong to oblong-linear, acute . 1. EH. ramosissima. 
b) Leaves ovate to oblong, obtuse .. . . 2. H, latifolia. 
II. Flowers in spike-like, cymose racemes. . . 3. E. spicata. 
B. Corolla yellow; style 2-cleft. ........ 4. EK. maritima. 
1036. (1.) Erythraea ramosissima Pers. Synops. I (1805), 
p- 283. — Boiss. Flor. Or. IV, p.67. — Rechbch. Ic. XVI, tab. 20 
fig. V. — Aschers.-Schweinf. Ill. Flor. d’Eg., p.105 no. 690. — 
Sickenberg. Contrib. Flor. d’Eg., p. 258. — Hrythraea pulchella Fries 
Noy. Flor. Suec., p. 30. — DC. Prodrom. IX, p.57. — Stems erect, 
usually much branched, 15—30 cm long. Leaves in many pairs, 
