GENTIAN TRIBE. 



417 



tions it varies so greatly, that some botanists enumerate 

 several distinct species, namely : E. pulchella (Dwarf 

 Centaury), a minute plant, 2 8 inches high, with an 

 exceedingly slender stem, and a few stalked powers (often 

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

 cially in the "West of England : E. littordlis (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 : and E. latifolia (Broad- 

 leaved Centaury), which 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 differences, 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. El. July, 

 August. Annual. 



I 



, FUJFdRMis (Least Gentianella). 

 E E 



