40 GENTIANA BAVAEICA. 



leaves are more dilated, so as to form a sort of rosette at the base of each stem. 

 It is a very beautiful little plant, and cannot fail to become a favorite when more 

 extensively known and cultivated. Like all the dwarfer species, it requires to be 

 planted in clumps to produce much effect, or it may be used as an edging to small 

 peat beds. 



The 67. lavarica is somewhat rare ; the only nurseryman, to our knowledge, in 

 possession of it is Mr. E. Stark, of the Edgehill Nursery, Edinburgh, of whom the 

 67. verna, alpina, gelida, and several other interesting species, may also be obtained. 



Some of the taller species of Gentian are very ornamental, perhaps even 

 more so than the dwarfer ones, and they are less rare than lavarica. Of those 

 found in Europe and Asia Minor, septemfida, cruciata, asclepiadea, and purpurea may 

 be recommended ; and to these may be added Catesbma and Saponaria from North 

 America, all with blue or purple flowers ; they vary in height from one to two 

 feet, and flower at a later period of the summer than acaulis, verna, and lavarica, 

 which gives them an increased value. Of Saponaria, asclepiadea, verna, and 

 Pneumonanthe, there are white flowered varieties, which produce a pretty effect 

 grown in contrast with the true species. The yellow Gentian, 67. lutea, is a 

 handsome plant, taller than any of the species yet named, and is easily cultivated ; 

 there are also several other species with yellow flowers, and one, G. incamata, 

 with pink blossoms, but the last is exceedingly rare ; with this exception, all the 

 species we have named may be obtained of one or other of the London Elorists. 

 The whole of them may be easily raised from seed when procurable. The Gentiana 

 lutea is the Astereas luteus of some Botanists, but the grounds of distinction are not 

 generally recognised as sufficient to justify its separation from the true Gentians. 



The flowers of the Gentians present several features worthy of remark. In some 

 of the species, five small segments, or teeth, alternate with the five larger divisions 

 of the limb of the corolla. In 67. asclepiadea and 67. ochroleuca, these intermediate 

 segments are short, rounded, and iindivided; in G. verna, G. Catesbaa, and others, 

 they are bifid ; while in the handsome 67. septemfida (so named from its corolla 

 being usually seven-lobed), they are prettily fringed. Others have the throat of 

 the flower bearded, as may be seen in 67. caucasea, and the indigenous species, 

 G. Amarella and 67. campestris. The pollen of most of the species forms a pretty 

 microscopic object, being generally composed of three grains, or occasionally three- 

 lobed. 



The leaves of many of the Gentians are strongly three-nerved, but there are so 

 many exceptions to this rule, that it can hardly be depended upon as a mark of 

 distinction from other plants; in all the species they are opposite, and quite 

 destitute of lobes or teeth. 



The bitter tonic properties of the plants of this genus are well known, and it is 

 remarkable that almost every member of the Order shares them to a great degree. 



