
PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 293 
which is specially marked in the Gentians, and to the Alpine 
botanist by the frequency with which he meets it, in varied form, 
in all districts in the higher ranges of mountain work. The Alpine 
Gentians vary much in size and colour, some being three or four 
feet in height, while others are so minute as to be only noticeable 
by the bright-blue colour peeping through the grass of the pasture- 
slopes. The situation in which they are found is from 3,000 feet 
high to the edges of the snow-fields ; on the level meadows of the 
mountains, sometimes in the marsh, but more frequently on the 
comparatively dry parts; on the steep mountain sides, amongst 
the short grass, and on the ledges of rocks where little beds of 
soil have accumulated ; but, most of all, where the melting snow 
trickles down amidst the soft rocky detritus, or on the sloping 
mountain ridges where the soft soil is kept saturated with moisture 
from the ice-fields. 
In most Alpine Gentians the stem is one-flowered, especially in 
those found in the highest elevations, but to this there are some 
marked exceptions. In the tall Gentians the plants are many- 
flowered, and these are either arranged in whorls in the axils of 
the leaves, or form dense masses at the apex of the stem. 
A distinguishing characteristic amongst the Alpine Gentians is 
the presence or absence of beard-like fringes in the throat of the 
corolla. Those possessing this bearded throat are small-flowered, 
the corolla being four or five-cleft, and blue, violet, or lilac in 
colour. Gentiana campestris, Linn., a familiar British plant, is 
a good example of this class. The beardless or fringeless Gentians 
are well known through their representative, G. acaulis, Linn. 
This group has large campanulate-shaped flowers, which only open, 
to be clearly seen, under the direct rays of the sun. Dr. Brown 
stated that he had been unable to differentiate as distinct in any 
permanent characters either @. excisa, Presl., or G. Clusit, Perr. 
& Song., from their prototype, @. acauwlis, Linn. He had 
examined large numbers of plants from different districts, but had 
entirely failed to satisfy himself as to their being distinct; such 
variations as exist are inconstant, and no permanency exists in 
any sufficient degree to justify separation. Dr. Brown further 
referred to the section whose flowers are rotate with a long tube, 
in which G. bavarica is best known, and to the section in which 
the corolla may be campanulate or rotate, but all of which possess 
