220 breck's new book of flowers. 



soils, not subject to the attacks of mildew, tlirip, or spi- 

 der, and yielding a succession of bloom from June until 

 November. 



GENTIANA— Gentian. 



[So called from Gentius. King of lUyiia.] 



The Gentians are very numerous ; they are very diffi- 

 cult to preserve in gardens, and the European varieties 

 are not much known in this country, although there are 

 some beautiful alpine species cultivated in Europe. 



Gentiana Saponaria. — Soap-wort Gentian. — A very 

 fine indigenous plant, distinguished by its large purple 

 flowers, which are so nearly closed at the top as to re- 

 semble buds ; sometimes the flowers are white and vari- 

 egated. It is found in moist woods and by the margin 

 of streams. It may be transplanted to the garden with- 

 out difficulty ; it grows one and one-half to two feet high ; 

 in flower in September and October. 



Gentiana crinita. — Fringed Gentian. — This Gentian is 

 exceeded by few native plants, in the delicacy and beau- 

 ty of its flowers. The stems are divided toward the top 

 into several erect brandies. The leaves are opposite, 

 ovate-lanceolate, smaller than in G. Saponaria. Flowers 

 erect on the ends of the branches. Segments of the co- 

 rolla of a deep fine jourple, fringed at the end, expanded 

 in the sun, erect and twisted at other times; one foot 

 high. Found in bloom in moist places in Seiitcmber and 

 October. This is a very difficult plant to remove success- 

 fully ; probably the only way to propagate it, is by seed, 

 but it flowers so late I have never found tlie seed ripe 

 enough to vegetate. It is a great pity that it cannot be 

 cultivated, for it is one of our handsomest indigenous 

 plants. 



