GENTIANA ANDREWSII. CLOSED GENTIAN. I 55 



at the Incoming of the present century, and who figured this 

 plant, supposing It to be a species already named. It differs from 

 Gentiana Saponaria, as pointed out by Dr. Hooker, in not having 

 the linear or spatulate calyx-lobes of that species, which in that 

 one equal or exceed the tube. G. Saponaria has also a light blue 

 corolla with distinct lobes and cleft appendages, and acute nar- 

 rowly winged seeds. The generic name, Gentian, is a very old 

 one, occurring In the wridngs of Pliny, the ancient Roman writer, 

 and is supposed to have been derived from Gendus, a King of 

 Illyria, who discovered tonic virtues in a species now believed to 

 be Gentiana Intea, of the old world, and by the use of which 

 he arrested malarial fever which had prevailed in his army. 

 Many of these ancient remedies have not sustained their reputa- 

 tions In these later times, but Gentian is still very popular In 

 modern pharmacy. Its bitter principle has much relation to hops ; 

 and It was used as hops before the latter came Into such general 

 use. It is still a popular ingredient In many patent medicines, 

 especially such as are known as "Stomachics" and "Bitters." 



Besides the Interest connected with the historical family rela- 

 'tlons, and Its own merits as a beautiful wild flower, and also one 

 well adapted to garden culture, the closed Gentian contributes 

 Its share to philosophical botany and furnishes some facts which 

 are valued In modern biological speculations. As already noted, 

 most Gentians open under sunlight, while this remains closed 

 at nearly all times; and what particular purpose such behavior 

 serves in the economy of the plant-life Is the problem. It Is be- 

 lieved that plants are generally benefited by an occasional cross 

 through the pollen of some other flower; but, of course. If this 

 never opens, It must be a self-fertilizer, and thus be deprived of 

 the benefits of any of this intermixture with other Individuals. 

 In the "American Naturalist," for 1874, Professor Gray notes that 

 in the closed blossoms the flowers are all erect, with the two 

 stigmas considerably above the five anthers. He has seen bum- 

 ble-bees force their way into the corollas, and he believes that the 

 flowers can only be fertilized by insect agency. In the volume 



