MENYANTHES. 223 



Gentiana Andrews!! Grisebach. Closed Gentian. 



Description. Calyx 5-parted, the lobes ovate, recurved, shorter than 

 the tube. Corolla inflated club-shaped, closed at the mouth, the broad, 

 short, rounded lobes remaining in apposition and concealing the interme- 

 diate fringed appendages. Anthers connivent. Pod at length projecting 

 from the persistent corolla. 



Stem erect, smooth, simple or sparingly branched, 1 to 2 feet high. 

 Leaves ovate-lanceolate, acute, narrowed at the base. Flowers in terminal 

 and axillary clusters ; corolla 1 to \\ inch long, pale blue, sometimes white. 



Habitat. In rich moist situations ; the most common species north- 

 ward. 



Gentiana puberula Michaux (G. Catesbcei Elliott). Blue Gentian. 



Description. Calyx 5-parted, the lobes lanceolate, about as long as the 

 tube. Corolla large, open, the lobes ovate, spreading, 2 to 4 times as long 

 as the cut-toothed appendages. Anthers connivent. 



Stem erect or ascending, 1 to 1J foot high, rough or slightly pubes- 

 cent. Leaves lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, rough-margined. Flowers 

 in axillary and terminal clusters ; corolla bright blue, lined with yellow and 

 deeper blue. 



Habitat. Dry prairies and barrens from Ohio to Wisconsin and south- 

 ward. 



Part Used. The root not official. That of the last described species 

 was formerly official, but was dropped from the Pharmacopoeia in 1880. 



Constituents. Nothing of a positive nature is known of the chemical 

 constituents of these plants, though they are supposed to be identical with 

 those of the official species, G. lutea. 



Preparations. Water extracts the bitter principle of these plants, hence 

 they may be employed in infusion or decoction. 



Medical Properties and Uses. There is probably no other difference 

 than of degree between the therapeutic effect of these and the official 

 species, and they may be employed for like purposes. 



MENYANTHES. 



Menyanthes trifoliata Linnu. Buckbean, Marsh Trefoil. 



Description. Calyx 5-parted, the lobes obtuse. Corolla rotate or short 

 funnel-form, more than twice as long as the calyx, 5-parted, deciduous, 

 the upper surface white bearded, the lobes valvate in the bud with the 

 margins turned inward. Stamens 5, as long as the corolla. Style slender, 

 persistent ; stigma 2-lobed. Capsule 1 -celled, many-seeded, bursting ir- 

 regularly. 



An herbaceous perennial with a long, round, jointed, horizomtal rhi- 

 zome, with numerous fibrous rootlets. Leaves trifoliate, upon long sheath- 

 ing petioles, which proceed from the end of the rhizome ; leaflets oval or 



