258 ERtTHREA. [CLASS V. ORDZR I. 



with a narrow oblong compressed germen, a shortish style, somewhat 

 oblique or recurved, and stigma of two roundish lobes. Capsule closely 

 invested with the persistent corolla, linear of two imperfect cells, two 

 valves, and many seeded. 



Habitat. Dry gravelly fields, and road sides ; frequent. 



Annual ; flowering from July to August. 



So extremely delicate are the flowers of this plant, that they will 

 only shew their blushing beauty at the solicitation of a glowing sun, 

 when they may expect numerous passing visits from the insect throng 

 to pay homage to their beauty, and inspect the curious structure of 

 their spiral cells. 



The whole plant is without odour; but the stem, leaves, and petals, 

 are strongly impregnated with a bitter resinous matter or mucus, 

 which is imparted to boiling water, or spirits of wine. It is tonic and 

 antiseptic; and before the introduction of cinchona bark, was used in 

 cases of fever : it is not, however, used in modern practice, but 

 is one of the great remedies of the village doctress, and is, no doubt, 

 useful in some dispeptic complaints, taken in the form of powder, or 

 half an ounce of the herb in half a pint of boiling water, taking a 

 fourth of it two or three times a day. 



2. E. pulchel'la, Hooker. (Fig. 339.) Dwarf-branched Centaury 

 Stem much branched ; leaves ovate oblong ; flowers on shoit stalks, in 

 loose panicles ; calyx nearly as long as the tube of the corolla ; th& 

 segments of the corolla oblong. 



Hooker, Flora Scotica, vol. i. p. 79; and British Flora, vol. i. p. 

 109. English Flora, vol. i. p. 323. Lindley, Synopsis, p. 178. 

 Chironia pulchella. English Botany, t. 458. Gentiana Centaurium, 

 . Linn. 



We are much disposed to follow Linnaeus in considering this as a 

 variety of the E. Centaurium. We have frequently met with speci- 

 mens in the dry sandy districts of Nottinghamshire, differing in no 

 respect from those grown on the sea shores in various parts of the 

 coast, except that they had been cropped down by cattle, consequently 

 had become much branched and lax, fewer flowered, and with shorter 

 leaves. 



Habitat. Sandy sea shores. England and Scotland ; Cape Clear 

 Island ; and near Bangor, county of Down, Ireland. 



Annual ; flowering from July to August. 



3. E. littora'lis, Hooker. (Fig. 340). Dwarf-tufted Centaury. Stem 

 simple, or branched ; leaves linear-obovate obtuse ; flowers nearly 

 sessile, in close capitate corymbs ; calyx as long as the tube of the 

 corolla ; the segments of the corolla ovate. 



Hooker, Flora Scotica, vol. i. p. 80 ; and British Flora, vol. i. p. 



