74 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



often denticulate. Plant glabrous, dark-green ; leaves paler beneath, 

 with the margins very finely cartilaginous-serrate. 



Calathian Violet. 



French, Gentiane ct FeuUles ^troites. German, Gemeine Genziane. 



This pretty little plant is worthy of cultivation, and is quaiutly mentioned by 

 Gerarde, who says, " The gallant flowres hereof bee in their bravery about the end of 

 August," and he tells us that " the later physitions hold it to be effectual against 

 pestilent diseases, and the bitings and stingings of venomous beasts." 



SPECIES IL— GENTIAN A VERNA. Linn. 



Plate DCCCCXV. 



Reich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XVII. Tab. MLXVIII. Fig. 4. 

 Billot, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 1935. 



Root-fibres slender. Rootstock much branched, shortly creep- 

 ing, emitting numerous stolons with scale-like leaves. Elowering- 

 stem simple, very short. Radical leaves in a rosette, oval or oblong- 

 oval ; leaves of the flowering-stem oblong-oval, very shortly connate 

 at its base ; all sub-acute, flat, 1-nerved. Elower solitary, terminal, 

 with 2 oval leaf-like bracts near the base of the calyx. Calyx- 

 tube prismatic, sharply 5-angled or 5-winged ; segments 5, strap- 

 shaped-lanceolate, one-third the length of the tube. Corolla-tube 

 not quite twice as long as the calyx, cylindrical, without hairs in the 

 throat ; limb of 5 broadly-oval obtuse segments, about one-fourth 

 the length of the tube, not ciliated, alternating with 5 minute 

 teeth about one-sixth of their own length. Capsule sessile or 

 sub-sessile. 



On rocky and stony places in limestone districts. Rare. Along 

 the course of the Tees, from Mickle Pell, down to Cronkley 

 Scars, and between Gort and Galway and Burrin, co. Clare. 



England, Ireland. Perennial. Spring. 



Plant caespitose, the divisions of the rootstock terminating in 

 rosette-like tufts of leaves i to f inch long. Plowering- stems very 

 short, sometimes not more than ^ inch when in flower, lengthening 

 in fruit till from 1 to 3 inches long. Calyx-tube with 5 raised 

 lines or wings, which are decurrent from the midribs of the seg- 

 ments. Tube of the corolla about 1 inch long ; limb f to 1 inch 

 across, dark vivid-blue. Plant green, glabrous. 



Spring Gentian. 

 French, Gentiane Printaniere. German, Friihlings Genziane. 



