GENTIAN TRIBE 193 



in habit, but at once distinguished by its 4-cleft flowers, which are 

 of a dull purplish colour. Dry pastures, common. Fl. August, 

 September. Annual. 



2. Erythr.ea (Centaury) 



I. E. centaurium (Common Centaury). A pretty herbaceous 

 plant 2-18 inches high, with square, erect stems, which are much 

 branched above, and terminate in variously divided flat tufts of 

 small rose-coloured flowers ; the leaves are oblong, with strong 

 parallel ribs, and remarkably smooth ; the flowers only expand in 

 fine weather. This is the common form of the plant as it occurs 

 in dry fields and waste places. In other situations it varies so 

 greatly that some botanists enumerate several supposed species, 

 which, however, run into one another so closely that they 

 may be taken to be varieties. The following are the more 

 distinct forms : 



E. fiulchella (Dwarf Centaury). A minute plant 2-8 inches high, 

 with an exceedingly slender stem and a few stalked flowers (often 

 only one) ; this is found on the sandy sea-shore, especially in the 

 west of England. 



E. littoralis (Dwarf Tufted Centaury). A stunted plant, with 

 broad leaves, and all the flowers crowded into a kind of head. This 

 occurs on turfy sea-cliffs. 



E. latijolia (Broad-leaved Centaury). Has even broader leaves 

 than the last, and bears its flowers in forked tufts, the main stem 

 being divided into three branches. There are other minute differ- 

 ences, for which the student may consult more scientific works. 

 The genus was formerly called Chironia, from the Centaur, Chiron, 

 who was famous in Greek mythology for his skill in medicinal herbs. 

 The English name, Centaury, has the same origin. 

 Fl. July, August. Annual. 



3. Cicendia (Gentianella) 



1. C. filiformis (Slender Gentianella). A minute slender 

 plant, in habit resembling Erythrcea pnlchella, and growing 

 to about the same size, 2-4 inches ; the pairs of opposite 

 leaves are very narrow and soon wither ; the flowers are 

 yellow, and expand only in bright sunshine. It grows in 

 sandy heaths where water has stood during the winter. 

 South-west of England. Fl. July. Annual. 



2. C. pusilla (Least Gentianella). A smaller plant than ^ 



the last, found in the Channel Isles ; it is more branched Cicendia^ 

 than C. filiformis ; the flowers white, pink, or yellow, with (Slender 

 the calyx deeply divided. Fl. July. Annual. Gentianella) 



