CICEXDIA.] GENTIANS^. 241 



2. C. pusil la, Griseb. ; branches spreading, leaves linear, calyx-tube 0. 



lobes subulate, corolla-lobes mucronate ^ as long as the tube. 



Sandy commons at Paradis in Guernsey ; fl. July-Sept. Smaller and more 

 slender than C. filiformis. Stems several, spreading- ; branches divaricate. 

 Leaves \ in. Flowers sometimes 5-merpus, pink ; peduncles slender. Calyx- 

 lobes erect. Capsule fusiform. DISTRIB. Belgium and France. 



3. ERYTHRJE'A, Pers. CENTAURY. 

 Annual herbs. Stems erect, angular. Leaves connate. Flowers small, 



pink white or yellow, in terminal 3-chotomous cymes. Calyx 4-5-partite. 



Corolla funnel-shaped, persistent ; tube cylindric, throat naked ; lobes 4-5. 



Stametis 4-5, on the corolla-tube ; anthers spirally twisted, exserted. Ovary 



almost 2-celled ; style deciduous, stigmas 2 ; ovules many. Capsule linear, 



1- or almost 2-celled, 2-valved, many-seeded. Seeds minute. DISTKIB. 



,Temp. Europe, N. Africa, 1ST. Asia, rare in N. America ; species about 15. 



ETYM. epu6p6s, from the red flowers. 



1. E. Centaurium, Pcrs. ; radical leaves ovate or oblong-spathulate. 



Dry pastures and sandy coasts; fl. June-Sept. Erect, glabrous, 6-18 in., 

 usually branched above. Radical leaves 1-2 in., upper sometimes linear. 

 Flowers J \ in. diam., many, red or pink. Calyx-lobes linear-subulate. 

 Corolla-lobes oblong, obtuse or subacute. Capsule slender. DISTRIB. 

 Europe from Gothland southwards, N. Africa ; introd. in N. America. 



Sub-sp. CEXTAU'RICM proper ; leaves 3-7-nerved, cymes fascicled, lateral 

 flowers pedicelled, calyx-lobes about J as long as the corolla-tube, corolla 

 ^ in. diam., capsule exceeding the calyx. E. latifolia, Engl. Bot.; (a 

 stunted var.). Chironia Centaurium, Sm. VAR. littm-a'lis, Fries (sp.); 

 margins of leaves and sepals usually puberulous, cymes compact, calyx-lobes 

 longer, corolla rather larger, capsule not exceeding the calyx. Sandy shores, 

 local ; not found in Ireland. 



Sub-sp. I.ATIFO'LIA, Sm. (sp.) ; glabrous, 2-4 in., stout, leaves all broad sub- 

 acute 5-7 -nerved, cymes compact, flowers all subsessile, calyx-lobes about 

 as long as the corolla-tube, corolla J in. diam., capsule scarcely exceeding 

 the calyx. Sand-hills, Lancashire. 



Sub-sp. PULCHEL'LA, Fries (sp.); glabrous, leaves 3-5-nerved, cymes rarely 

 compact, flowers all pedicelled, calyx-lobes about J as long as the corolla- 

 tube, corolla \ in. diam., lobes narrow, capsule slightly exceeding the calyx. 

 Wet sandy places ; rare in Scotland ; S. of Ireland only. 



4. GENTIA'NA, L. GENTIAN. 



Herbs of various habit. Leaves opposite. Flowers solitary, or in ter- 

 minal cymes. Calyx 4-5-fid or -partite, sometimes spathaceous. Corolla 

 4-5-lobed, angles sometimes folded and produced, throat naked bearded or 

 with 5 scales. Stamens 4-5, inserted on the corolla-tube, included ; anthers 

 dehiscing extrorsely. Disk annular. Ovary 1 -celled ; style or short, 

 stigmas 2 persistent recurved ; ovules many. Capsule septicidally 2-valved, 

 many-seeded. Seeds immersed in the broad membranous placentas. DIS- 

 TRIB. Temp, regions and high mountains, rare in arctic ; species about 

 150. ETYM. The classical name. 



1. G. campes'tris, L. ; annual, calyx ebracteate 4-partite, lobes very 

 unequal, corolla-tube subcylindric, throat ciliate. 



B 



