320 



May 14. Read, Observations on Gentiana Amarella, Linn., and G. 

 germanica, Willd. ; and on Pyrola media, Sm.; by P. J. Brown, Esq., 

 Thun. The author states his belief that the much-controverted ques- 

 tion of the specific identity or distinctness of the two Gentians is yet 

 far from being settled ; and " that it never can be set at rest in the clo- 

 set, or in any other way than by the continued examination of both 

 plants in a living state, and in their native abodes." 



" Smith, in his ' English Flora' (under G. Amarella), says that G. germanica, W. 

 ' may be a good species, but has not yet been observed in England.' Grisebach, the 

 latest and best authority for the Gentianeae, has England or Scotland as the country 

 of every variety of Amarella, and near Ripon as a habitat of germanica. His distinc- 

 tions and descriptions, although apparently available upon paper, will not, however, 

 stand the test of the field, as they fluctuate within the limits of probable variation, as 

 may be judged to be likely when he has four states of each species. Minor distinc- 

 tions being set aside, there seems to be little more left than G. Amarella, ovarium and 

 capsule sessile, calyx-lobes lanceolate, obtuse, though variable ; G. germanica, ovarium 

 and capsule stipitate, calyx lobes ovato-lanceolate, acuminate. It is true that in his 

 characters, he calls the tube of the corolla of Amarella cylindrical, and of germanica 

 ' sensim ampliata ; ' but in his descriptions he calls them both obconical. Every dis- 

 tinction he makes depending on size, form, or proportion of parts, may be found here 

 in the space of a few square yards equally applicable to the one as to the other, our 

 plants varying from two inches to two feet, from quite simple, with one flower, to very 

 much branched, with from 150 to 200 flowers ; leaves broad and narrow, blunt and 

 pointed, much more distant from each other than their own length, or quite the re- 

 verse ; the calyx-lobes, which are avowedly inconstant, vary as much as the other parts, 

 and the question is nearly reduced to the sessile or stipitate ovarium, and capsule. 

 Now, although our plants are, at least in my opinion, decidedly Grisebach's G. ger- 

 manica, I do not find the stipitate ovarium, and am inclined to suspect it may be 

 a delusory appearance, arising in the following manner. * * * The 



lower third of the ovarium being destitute of seeds, and at the same time fleshy 

 and succulent, I suspect that when gathered in an early stage of flowering, or later if 

 much pressed and dried very quickly, the ovarium shrinks uniformly in drying, and 

 has the sessile form attributed to Amarella ; but that when in a more advanced stage, 

 particularly if dried slowly under slight pressure, the substance of the swelling seeds 

 keeps the upper portion of the ovarium expanded, while the lower empty succulent 

 part shrinks and produces the stipitate form of germanica." — p. 69. 



The author observes that his attention was drawn to the subject too 

 late in the season to pursue the inquiry satisfactorily ; he suggests that 

 botanists should study these plants " from the commencement to the 

 end of their flowering season, drying specimens at stated intervals of 

 about a fortnight, and noticing the form of the ovaria in the living and 

 dried states." In this recommendation we most heartily concur, and 

 should be glad to learn the results. Mr. Babington's opinion on G. 

 germanica is recorded in the present number (Phytol. 310). 



