2. SwERTiA.] 92. GENTIANACE^. 



1. S. angustifolia, Ham., inc. S. pulcliella, Ham., and S. affinis, Clarke ; 

 Chiretta, H. ; Chirainta, Birja ; Bonga Marchi, K. 

 A pretty, erect or diffuse herb 1-3 ft. high, with stems 4-angled 

 above, long linear or linear-lanceolate sessile 8-nerved or snb-3-nerved 

 leaves 2-4" long, and white or very pale bine 4-merous flowers 5-7" 

 diam. in numerous panicles, or the flowering branches forming one 

 very large panicle. Each petal with one large gland at base. 



Common in grassy glades in the valleys, and on the tops of high hills in open 

 grassy sitnations. Fl. Oct. -Dec. 



The following varieties occur : — 



a. Wallichiana, BuvMll. 



Inflorescence lax. Sepals verj- long linear acuminate attaining -6", longer than 

 the -25- "S" long petals which are white without black markings. Gland very large. 

 Ramiiagar Hills ! 



/3. pyramidalis, Haines. Syn. S. pulcliella. Ham., in part, var. 

 pulcliella, Burlcill ? 



Leaves lanceolate 2". Branches of inflorescence long, the whole forming a large 

 ovoid panicle. Sepals '2o~"S" equal to or shorter than the petals which are mostly 

 about '3" oblong-obovate, looking bluish from the numerous purple dots or dashes. 

 Gland very large. 



Neterhat, 3.300 ft. ! 



y. pulchella, Burkill. Syn. S. affinis, Clarke. 



Leaves often very long linear, oyer 3". Branches of inflorescence lax and very 

 numerous, usually forming an oblong panicle. Flowers much as in last but gland 

 usually smaller. 



Chota Nagpur, all districts ! Purneah ! 



3. ERYTHRJEA, Rich. 



Erect herbs with opposite sessile leaves and regular white or rose 

 flowers in dichotomous cymes. Calyx tubular with 5 narrow keeled 

 teeth. Corolla salver-shaped. Stamens 5 near top of tube. Ovary 

 1-celled, placentae far-intruded, style linear, stigmas 2. Capsule 

 oblong, about as long as calyx, nearly 2-celled, 2-valved, cells 

 separating. Seeds very small, reticulate. 



1. E. Roxburghii, G. Don. 



A pretty little plant 2-8" high with numerous persistent radical 

 obovate or elliptic leaves about I" long, and smaller narrower cauline. 

 Flow^ers rose-coloured with very slender corolla-tube, "Zl-'S" long, 

 long-pedicelled, in repeatedly branched dichasial cymes with small 

 bracts. 



Infields. Behar, T.A.I Sahibganj, S.P., Kurzl Bettiah, Rieronymusl Fl. 

 March- April . 



It somewhat reminds one of a miniature English " Centaury " and sometimes of 

 Canscvra diffusa. 



Radical leaves usually obtuse. Pedicels in the forks of the cyme •25-"o". Calyx 

 *2". Corolla-lobes spreading, ver.y small. 



4. CANSCORA, Lamk. 



Annual 2-chotomously branched herbs, with sessile, perfoliate or 

 petioled often 3-5-basal-nerved leaves. Flowers often small, more or 

 less irregular, white or pink, axillary and in terminal cymes or (not 



568 



