GENTIAN TRIBE 191 



anthers. The pistil of this flower, as well as of the following species, 

 is a singularly beautiful object. A doubtful native, being found 

 only in the neighbourhood of dwelling-houses. Fl. May, June. 

 Perennial. 



2. V. minor (Lesser Periwinkle). Stem trailing, sending up short, 

 erect, leafy shoots, which bear the flowers ; margins of the leaves 

 not fringed. Woods, especially in the West of England, where it 

 often entirely covers the ground with its evergreen leaves. It is 

 smaller than the last. A white variety occurs in Devonshire, and 

 in gardens it is often met with bearing variegated leaves and double 

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



Natural Order LII 



GENTIANACE/E. The Gentian Tripe 



Calyx usually 5, sometimes 4 to 8-cleft, not falling off ; corolla 

 of 1 petal, its lobes equalling in number those of the calyx, not 

 falling off, twisted when in bud, often fringed about the mouth of 

 the tube ; stamens equalling in number the lobes of the corolla, and 

 alternate with them ; ovary of 2 carpels, 1 or imperfectly 2-celled ; 

 style 1 ; stigmas 2 ; fruit a many-seeded capsule. Mostly herba- 

 ceous plants, with opposite, generally sessile leaves, and often large, 

 brilliantly coloured flowers. This is an extensive Order, containing 

 between four and five hundred species, which are distributed 

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

 test regions of South America and India. Though able to bear the 

 most intense cold, they are very rare both in the Arctic and Antarctic 

 regions. Under the equator, the lowest elevation at which they 

 have been found is 7850 feet. On the Himalaya and Rocky Moun- 

 tain ranges species have been found at a height of 16,000 feet ; 

 another in Ceylon at 8000 feet ; in Southern Europe one species, 

 Gentiana prostrata, flourishes at between 6000 and 9000 feet ; and 

 in the Straits of Magellan and Behring's Straits just above the level 

 of the sea. In South America and New Zealand the prevailing 

 colour of the flower is red ; in Europe, blue ; yellow and white 

 being of rare occurrence. All the known species are remarkable foi 

 the intensely bitter properties residing in every part of the herbage, 

 hence they are valuable tonic medicines. That most commonly 

 used in Europe is G. lutea (Yellow Gentian) ; but there is little 

 doubt that other species might be employed with equally good 

 effect. 



1. Gentiana (Gentian). Calyx 4 to 5-cleft ; corolla funnel- o: 

 salver-shaped ; stamens 5, rarely 4 ; stigmas 2. (Name from Gen- 

 tius, an ancient King of Illvria, who discovered its medicinal value.) 



