LXXXIII. GENTIANS^. 251 



Tribe 1. Euqentianeje. (G-en. 1-7.) 

 1. CHIRONIA, Linn. 



Calyx 5-parted or 5-fi(l. Corolla rotate, marcescent ; limb 

 5-parted. Stamens 5, in the throat, exserted, deelinate ; an- 

 thers nt3t twisted, valves rigid, involute, cells confluent above. 

 Ovary 1-celled, half-2- or half-4-celled ; ovules many ; style 

 incurved, deciduous ; stigma undivided, capitate or clavate, 

 rarely 2-lobed. Capsules 2-valved, septicidal or rarely fleshy. 

 -^DC. Prod. \x.p. 39. 



Perennial herbs or half-shrubs, all natives of South Africa. Flowers 

 handsome, red ; anthers very large, yellow, — 11 species, dispersed. 



2. ORPHIUM, E. Mey. 



Character of Chironia, except : Disk ample, fleshy, annular, 

 between the calyx and corolla. Anthers spirally twisted. — 

 DC. Prod. ix. p. 43. 



0. frutescens {Chironia frutescens) is a villous, much-branched bush, 

 common on the Cape flats, with oblong-lanceolate or narrow leaves, and 

 handsome, rosy flowers. 



3. PLOCANDRA, E. Mey. 



Character of OrpMum, except : no intra-calycine disk. 

 Ovary 1-celled; style straight. — DC. Prod. ix. />. 43. 



Herbs, growing in marshy spots, with numerous radical or subradical 

 long leaves, and tall, sparsely leafy stems, cymose-i^aniculate at summit. 

 Flowers red or white. — 3 species, natives of Eastern frontier and Natal. 



4. SEBJEA, E. Br. 



Calyx 4-5-parted or 4-5-fid, the segments dorsally keeled 

 or winged, or 4-leaved, the sepals not keeled. Corolla funnel- 

 shaped or salver-shaped, marcescent, the tube cylindrical, at 

 length inflated ; limb 4-5-parted. Stamens inserted in the 

 throat; anthers erect, exserted, at length recurved. Ovary 

 by the inflexed edges of the valves 2-celled ; style deciduous ; 

 stigma clavate or capitate, mostly 2-lobed. Capsules 2-valved, 

 2-celled, septicidal. — DC. Prod. ix. p. 52. 



Annuals, natives of the Southern hemisphere. Cymes terminal ; flowers 

 yellow or whitish. — About 10 South African species. 



5. LAGENIAS, E. Mey. 



Character of Sehcea, except : Anthers included, just within 

 the throat of corolla-tube, at length recurved, at the apex 1- 

 glanded and at base 2-glanded. — DC. Prod. \x. p. 54. 



A small annual, with narrow leaves and yellow flowers, found near Cape- 

 town. 



