256 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [Sess. Lxxxri 



The latter are certainly not G. ovnafa, Wall. I shall at 

 the end of this communication deal with the (juestion of 

 the identity of G. ornata, Wall., and will add therefore 

 nothing more here on the subject. 



Until 6^. Farreri came, I gave the palm to G. sino-ornata 

 amongst late-flowering Gentians. Nor do I admit that 

 G. Farreri surpasses it at all points. The one is a pale 

 the other a dark flowered species, and both sliould have a 

 place in every garden. 



G. sino-ornata is a late flovverer. The first flowers open 

 usually at Edinburgh in the last days of September, and 

 flowering continues until winter rigours send the plant 

 to rest. It appears to be the most free in growth of the 

 four species referred to here. A small plant from a cutting 

 will increase to a patch a foot or more in diameter within 

 a year. There is no mistaking it for any other species. 

 Its half lanceolate pointed leaves, not narrowed at the 

 base, which may be 5 millimeters broad, are stitt" and 

 spreading on the stolons and do not recurve as in G. Farreri 

 and G. Lawrencei, and though they may approach the 

 length of the leaves in those species, they look much shorter 

 owing to their greater breadth. The pedicel above the 

 uppermost leaves hardly exists, so that the flower looks 

 as if it were sessile on the end of the stolon and not stalked 

 as in G. Farreri and G. Lawre7icei. Then the calyx is much 

 shorter than tlie corolla, its inner lining has a whitish 

 vesicular appearance, and the calyx-lobes are erect — each 

 of them is flat, tapering from a non-contracted base about 

 3 millimeters broad to a sharp point. The corolla has a 

 limb about 3 centimeters across when expanded, the throat 

 is blotched inside and not bright white. The apiculate 

 lobes do not reflex to the extent of those of G. Farreri, and 

 the folds remain somowliat erect — the whole efl'ect is that 

 of a narrower and more funnel-like not trumpet-sliaped 

 mouth. The general colour ot" the corolla-limb is a rich 

 royal-blu<!, in iriarked contrast to the satiny methyl-blue 

 in G. Farreri and G. Lawrencei. The flowers show all 

 the sensitiveness to light and moisture of most Gentians, 

 only expanding fully under bright sunshine and in a 

 dry atmosphere. 



G. Vcitchuyrurri is an altogetliei- different plant in its 



