GENTIAN TRIBE 241 



bitter principle common to the tribe, and is sometimes used by country 

 people to mingle with their hops in brewing. This bitter principle, like the 

 acridity of the buttercups, has doubtless been developed by the Gentians to 

 protect them from extermination by herbivorous quadrupeds. Several of the 

 species have, in various times and places, been used instead of the hop ; and 

 before the general culture of the latter plant, malt liquor received much of 

 its flavour from a species called in those days Fehvort, Bitterwort, Baldmoyne, 

 or Bald-money. In those times, when queens and maids of honour drank 

 foaming ale for their breakfast, several bitter plants were in much request ; 

 and Gerarde tells, that a species of Gentian was sent to him from " Burgundic 

 by Master Isaac de Lanne, for the encrease of his garden." The species to 

 which he refers appears to be the Gentian of commerce, G. lutea, still used 

 for various disorders, but not for so many as in those days, when it was 

 considered soporific as well as tonic. Modern physicians find, however, that 

 one species at least, G. microphylla, has soporific properties, and it has been 

 used in many instances in procuring sleep for the weary sufferer. The basis 

 of the celebrated Portland powder is said to be Gentian ; and as the roots of 

 nearly all the species contain a large proportion of sugar, an intoxicating 

 liquor has been distilled from them, which the Swiss call Gentianwasser. 

 The French term the Gentian La Geniiane, and the Germans Der JEnzian ; 

 the Dutch call it Gentiaan, the Italians Genziana, and the Eussians Goret- 

 scJiafka. 



2. Gentianella {Cidndia). 



1, Least Gentianella (C. filiformis). — Leaves slender, lanceolate, 

 sessile ; stem angled, forked ; flower-stalks elongated ; annual. This is a 

 graceful little plant, very similar in its habit to the dwarf centaury, and with 

 a stem about the same height, but with smaller flowers. It is from two to 

 four inches high, the narrow leaves withering early, and the flowers opening 

 only during sunshine. These flowers are yellow, occurring from July to 

 September. It differs from the Gentians in having four instead of five 

 stamens, and its calyx and corolla are 4-cleft. It grows in sandy bays and on 

 sandy heaths. It is found in the south and south-west of England, and in 

 sandy turf-bogs in Ireland. Some separate it from Cicendia and call it 

 Microcala. 



2. Guernsey Gentianella (C pimllum).— Similar to the last-mentioned, 

 but smaller and more slender ; flowers pink, sometimes with the parts in fives. 

 Lobes of the calyx awl-shaped, the lobes of the corolla ending in little points. 

 It is an annual plant with several branched stems arising from the root. 

 It flowers from July to September, and grows on sandy commons in the 

 Channel Islands. 



3. Centaury (Erythrcea). 



1. Common Centaury (JE. centaurium). — Stem quadrangular, branched 

 above ; leaves oblong ; flowers in nearly sessile panicles ; calyx half as long 

 as the tube of the opening corolla ; annual. The Common Centaury is a 

 pretty and frequent plant on heaths and dry pastures, as well as on cliffs by 

 the sea, from June to September. If we look for its flowers on a cloudy day, 



II.— .31 



