CLASS V. ORDER U.] GENT1ANA. 335 



ORDER II. 



DIGYN'IA. 2 PISTILS. 



GENUS XLIV.f GENTIA'NA LINN. Gentian. 

 Nat. Ord. GENTIAN'S.*:. Juss. 



GEN. CHAR. Calyx four or five-cleft. Corolla funnel or salver- 

 shaped, with a tubular base, the limb five-cleft. Stamens 

 inserted into the tube of the corolla. Styles sometimes united 

 into one. Stigmas two. Capsule of one cell, with two valves, 

 and marginal placenta. Named from Gentius, King of Illyria, 

 who is said to have brought it into use as a medicine. 



* Flowers terminal or axillary, solitary, or in pairs, the mouth naked. 



1. G. acau'lis, Linn. (Fig. 403.) dwarf Gentian. Flower solitary, 

 terminal, about as long as the square stem; leaves oblong lanceolate; 

 stigmas semi-orbicular toothed. 



English Botany, t. 1594. English Flora, vol. ii. p. 28. Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 124. Lindley, Synopsis, p. 178. 



Root fleshy, branched fibres. Stem solitary, square, smooth, from 

 one to two inches long, arising from the middle of a tuft of radical 

 leaves, and one or two pairs on the stem. Leaves oblong lanceolate, 

 acutely pointed, from one to five ribbed, quite smooth, shining. 

 Flower terminating the stem, and about the same length. Calyx 

 mostly with a pair of leaves at the base, of one piece, tubular, divided 

 into five broadly lanceolate acute segments, closely pressed to the tube 

 of the corolla, each with a single and two lateral obscure ribs. 

 Corolla bell-shaped, with a somewhat inflated tube, ribbed, of a pale 

 blue, spotted within with dark purple spots, and quite naked, the 

 limb plaited, of five broadly lanceolate acute spreading segments, of a 

 very deep rich blue, entire, or occasionally notched at the base. 



f Svertia perennis, Linn. (Marsh Felwort, or Swertia.) Corolla of Ete 

 lanceolate acute segments ; stem simple; peduncles corymbose; leaves nerved, 

 oiate, pointed at each extremity. 



English Botany, t. 1441 English Flora, vol. i. p. 26 Hooker, British Flora, 

 vol. i. p. 124 Lindley, Synopsis, p. 179. 



According to Hudson, this plant was found by Dr. Richardson in Wales; but 

 as it has not since been found there, and as there are some reasons to suppose 

 there is a mistake as to its being a native plant, we think it ought not to be 

 admitted into our Flora. 



