^42 GENTIANE^ 



we find that they are all closed up, nor are they ever to be seen in full beauty 

 after three o'clock. AVe have, however, sometimes seen a gathered specimen 

 gradually unfold its blossoms even on an evening, when placed on the hearth 

 in the full light and warmth of the fire. The stem bears its panicles of 

 blossoms near the top. They are of a beautiful rose-colour, in very pretty 

 form, and varied by the golden anthers. The leaves are of a light delicate 

 green, remarkably smooth, and having strong parallel ribs. They are 

 intensely bitter, and possess tonic properties ; as Dodsley says — 



"Wormwood and Centaury, their bitter jiiice, 

 To aid digestion's sickly powers, refine." 



The Centaury is a long approved medicinal herb, and undoubtedly one of 

 the very best which our native fields supply. We have the authorit}'- of 

 Dr. George Moore, for saying that it may be taken with great success in brow 

 agues and intermittent fevers. This author remarks, that the poor on the 

 coast of Sussex make a strong infusion of this excellent bitter ; and we have 

 ourselves seen it much used in Kent as a tonic, and often dried for the pur- 

 pose. Mr. Purton also considers an infusion either of the leaves or roots good 

 for weak digestions ; and Professor Burnett remarks that did not our catalogue 

 already groan, this plant might be added to the list of the " Materia Medica." 

 The old herbalists Avho called it " the ordinary small Centaury " say that it 

 is "under the dominion of the sun, as appears in that the flowers open and 

 shut as the sun either showeth or hideth his face." They recommend it as a 

 cure for jaundice and agues, and also, in a fresh state, as an outward applica- 

 tion to wounds. They say that the infusion of the plant removes all freckles, 

 and add, that " the herb is so safe you cannot fail in the using of it. . . . 'Tis 

 very wholesome, but not very toothsome." 



2. Dwarf-branched Centaury {E. j?z(/cM/a).— Stem quadrangular, 

 much branched ; leaves egg-shaped, the uppermost oblong ; flowers stalked, in 

 loose panicles, axillary, and terminal ; calyx nearly as long as the tube of the 

 opening corolla ; annual. This species is much like the preceding, and prob- 

 ably but a variety of it. The stem is either simple, or much branched, even 

 from the base, six or eight inches high, having numerous rose-coloured flowers 

 in leafy forked panicles, with a single flower-stalk between the branches. 

 The length of the tube of the corolla must be observed exactly at the time 

 Avhcn the flower is beginning to expand. The plant blossoms from July to 

 October. 



3. Broad-leaved Tufted Centaury (iJ. latifdlia). — Stem quadrangular, 

 short, branched from the base; leaves broadly elliptical, blunt; flowers in 

 crowded forked tufts, sessile ; calyx rather shorter than the tube of the open- 

 ing corolla ; segments of the corolla lanceolate ; annual. This species has a 

 thick stem, often not more than two or three inches high, though occasionally 

 taller. It usually divides itself into three main branches, and has very large 

 root and stem-leaves strongly ribbed, its pink tufts of flowers opening in 

 June and July. It occurs in various places near the sea. 



4. Dwarf-tufted Centaury (E.Unarifulia). — Stem simple, or branched; 

 root-leaves crowded, tapering at the base ; stem-leaves oblong, linear, blunt ; 

 flowers in sessile clusters ; calyx as long as the tube of the opening 



