74 GEETIAFACE^. [EBTTHB2EA. 



tropical regions of the N. Hemisphere, extending to Chili and 

 Australia. 



Bracts conspicuous ; calyx-teeth about 

 equalling the corolla tube . . . 1. E. ramosissirna. 



Bracts not conspicuous ; calyx teeth much 



shorter than the corolla tube . . 2. E. Bosclurghii. 



1. E. ramosissirna, Pers. Syn. i, 283 ; F. B. I. iv, 101. 



Stems 3 15 in. high, very leafy. Leaves f-1| in. lcng, ovate, elliptic or 

 lanceolate, obtuse or acute, the lowermost not in rosettes. Flowers in 

 conspicuously bractcate clusters, sessile, pink. Calyx-teeth, linear, 

 about equalling the corolla tube, substellate in bud. 



Moradabad and Saharanpur districts. Distkib. Punjab Plain, 

 Afghanistan and Baluchistan extending to Egypt, also in China and 

 Manchuria. 



2. E. Koxfcurghii, G. Don Gen. Syst. iv, 206 ; Beyle 111. 277; F. B. I. 

 i V) 102 ; F att B. 1).; Brain Beng. Bl. 707 ; Cede Fl. Bowl, ii. JSO. 

 E. ramosissirna (vars. A. and B.) Clarl-e in Journ. linn. Sec. aiv, 428 (no, 

 ofBoir.) Chironia centauroides, Beah. Fl. Jnd. i,b84. 



A small erect annual. Sterns 2-12 in. high, 4 angled. Badical leaves in 

 rosettes, f 1 in. lcng, obevate or oblong, obtuse ; cauline smaller, linear- 

 oblong. Flowers pink, in dietotcmcus cymes, with a long pedicelled 

 flower in each fork, tracts not prominent. Calya teeth linear, acute, 

 much shorter than the corolla tube, substellate in bud. Corolla rotate, 

 \ f in. long ; lobes elliptic, acv.te. Anthers at length, spirally twisted. 

 Btigma large, 2-lamellate. Capsule narrowly oblong. 



Abundant within the area, especially in cultivated land. Flowers 

 Feb. — April. Disteie. From the Punjab Plain and Bengal to S. 

 India. The plant is used as a substitute for chiretta, especially in 

 Bengal. 



4. GENTIANA, Linn.; Fl. Brit. Ind. iv, 108. 



Herbs, annual or perennial, scmet'mes woody below. Zeares 

 opposite, often connate at the base, blotters blue, yellow or white, 

 axillary and terminal, usually sessile. Calyx tubular, tertte or rarely, 

 keeled, sometimes spathace< rs, 1< hes 6 or 4* Corolla tubular, ram- 

 panulate funnel-shaped or subrotate ; lobes 6 or A, often with folds 

 between the lobes. Stamens 5 or 4, attached at or below the middle 

 of the tube, included ; filaments linear, s< me^hat flattered dowi wards. 

 Ovary 1-celled, placentas sightly intruded, style usually shoit or 

 none, stigmas divei pent. Capsule stalkec or senile. Seeds many, 

 small, reticulated.— Species about 300, chiefly inhabiting mountain- 



