PERIWINKLE FAMILY 327 



and sepals glabrous ; corolla i in, across, violet, with a tube 

 thrice as long as the calyx-lobes. — Woods, especially in the west 

 of England, where it often entirely covers the ground with its 

 glossy leaves. A white variety occurs in Devonshire, and in gar- 

 dens it is often met with bearing variegated leaves and double, 

 purple, blue, or white flowers. — Fl. March — June. Perennial. 



2.* V. major (Greater Periwinkle). — A more erect plant, much 

 larger than the last, with the margins of its leaves and sepals 

 minutely fringed, and the latter as long as the corolla- tube, is not 



vixcA MixoR {Lesser Perhvinkle). 



indigenous, occurring only near houses.— Fl. April, May. Peren- 

 nial. 



Ord. L. Gentl\ne.e. — Gentian Family 



An Order comprising between 400 and 500 species, distributed 

 throughout all climates, from the regions of perpetual snow to the 

 hottest parts of South America and India ; but mainly northern 

 and sub-alpine. Under the Equator they do not occur below 

 7,850 feet above sea-level : in the Himalayas and in the Rocky 

 Mountains species reach altitudes of 16,000 feet : in southern 

 Europe Gentidna prostrdta grows at 6,000 — 9,000 feet above the 

 sea : on Behring's Straits and on the Straits of ^Magellan species 

 occur just above the level of the sea ; but they are very rare both in 

 the Arctic and Antarctic Regions. In South America and New 

 Zealand the prevailing colour of the flower is said to be red, and 



