178 



GENTIANE^E. III. AOATHOTES. IV. OPHELIA. 



racemosely pariicled ; pedicels solitary, axillary, and terminal ; 

 calycine segments lanceolate, acuminated, longer than the co- 

 rolla. Corolline segments acuminated, broad at the base. 



Nerved-]ea\ed Agathotes. PI. 2 to 3 feet. 



3 A. CHIRAYITA (D. Don, mss.) stem terete; leaves ovate- 

 lanceolate : scrobicles of corolla oblong, distinct : having the 

 edges fringed with hairs. Q. H. Native of Nipaul, Kamaon, 

 and Himalaiah. Gentiana Chirata, Wall. pi. asiat. rar. 3. 

 p. 33. t. 252. Gentiana cherayta, Fleming, asiat. res. 2. p. 16. 

 Roxb. fl. ind. 2. p. 71. Swertia purpurea, Royle, herb. Swer- 

 tia chirata, Hamilt. mss. Flowers greenish yellow. Segments 

 of calyx about equal in length to the corolla. The whole of the 

 dried herb of this plant is in general use among the natives of 

 Hindostan, and the mountainous countries bordering upon it to 

 the north. It is called in the Sanscrit Chirata, Chiratatikta, and 

 Cheralaka, &c., and in the Bengalee Chireta and Chirayta. 

 Dr. Wallich thinks that it contains a larger proportion and 

 greater intensity of bitter principle than any other species of 

 Gentian, and that the introduction of it into our pharma- 

 copoaia would be attended with much public benefit. A weak 

 infusion of it, made with cold spring or rain water, should be 

 used in small quantities, repeated several times daily, for some 

 weeks, when it may advantageously be left off for a short time, 

 and then resumed again. A decoction or infusion, made with 

 hot water, Dr. Fleming says is objectionable, on account of the 

 head-ache it generally produces. The dried herb of the Chi- 

 rata is met with in every bazaar in Hindostan, being a medicine 

 in the highest repute with both the Hindu and European prac- 

 titioners. It contains all the stomachic, tonic, febrifugal and 

 antarthritic virtues which are ascribed to Aslerias lutea, but in a 

 greater degree. The efficacy of Chirata, when combined with 

 Caranga nut, the Guilandina Bonducella, in curing intermittents, 

 has already been mentioned under that name, in vol. II. It 

 is found equally powerful in exciting and strengthening the 

 action of the stomach, and obviating flatulency, acidity, and 

 redundancy of phlegm, in dyspepsia and gout. For restoring 

 the tone and activity of the moving fibre in general debility, 

 and in that kind of cachexy which is liable to terminate in 

 dropsy. In Chirayta will be found one of the most useful and 

 efficacious remedies which can be employed. Infusions of the 

 plant are the best way of administering it. Spirituous tinctures 

 are also prepared with the addition of cardamom seeds or orange 

 peel. The most useful purpose to which the tincture can be 

 applied, is that of being added to the infusion to render it more 

 agreeable. 



Chirayta. PL 2-4 feet. 



Cult. For culture and propagation, see Ophelia, p. 179. 



IV. OPHE'LIA (from tatt>t\eia, opheleia, service ; plants ser- 

 viceable in medicine). D. Don, mss. Swertia species of 

 authors. 



LIN. SYST. Tetra-Pentdndria, Monogynia. Calyx deeply 

 4-5-parted, spreading. Corolla rotate, deeply 4-5-parted ; nec- 

 tariferous glands or pores at the base of each segment 2, dis- 

 tinct or combined, naked. Stamens 4-5 ; filaments subulate, 

 glabrous; anthers cordate, obtuse, 2-celled. Ovarium fusiform. 

 Style very short ; stigma 2-lobed : lobes obtuse, revolute, prui- 

 nose. Capsule ovate, membranous, 1 -celled, 2-valved, many- 

 seeded, dehiscing at top. Seeds minute, angular, scrobiculate, 

 dark brown, scabrous Annual branched herbs, natives of 

 Nipaul ; with quadrangular stems ; opposite sessile leaves ; and 

 panicled, white, or purple flowers. 



* Segments of corolla furnished nith 2 conferruminated glands 

 or pores at the base of each. 



1 O. ANGUSTIFOLIA (D. Don, mss.) flowers 4-cleft ; leaves 



12 



petiolate, linear-lanceolate, acute ; calycine segments linear, 

 mucronate ; segments of corolla ovate, acuminated, hardly 

 shorter than the calyx. . H. Native of Nipaul, at Narain- 

 hetty, and of Kamaon and Sirmore. Swertia angustifolia, S. 

 pulchella, and S. dichotoma, Ham. herb. S. angustifolia, D. 

 Don, prod. fl. nep. p. 127. Wall. pi. rar. asiat. 3. p. 2. t. 204. 

 Branches trichotomous. Leaves 2 inches long. Flowers pale 

 purple, dotted with paler purple. Root fusiform, fibry. The 

 glands or pores on the segments of the corolla are bearded 

 above, consequently it may be a species of Agathotes. 

 Narrow-leaved Ophelia. PI. 1 to 2 feet.. 



2 O. CILIA'TA (D. Don, mss.) flowers 5-cleft ; leaves linear, 

 scabrous, with revolute margins, petiolate, ciliated ; calycine 

 segments lanceolate, mucronate ; segments of corolla ovate- 

 lanceolate, acuminated, tuberculate at the base, hardly longer 

 than the calyx; stem nearly terete. . H- Native of the 

 Himalaiah, Royle. Swertia ciliata, Royle, herb. Stem sca- 

 brous at the joints. 



Ciliated -leaved Ophelia. PI. 1 foot. 



3 O. WALLICHII ; flowers 5-cleft ; leaves lanceolate, acumin- 

 ated, 3-nerved, ciliated at the base ; segments of corolla ovate, 

 shorter than the calyx; filaments dilated at the base. Q. H. 

 Native throughout Nipaul and Kamaon. Swertia paniculata, 

 Wall. pi. rar. asiat. 3. p. 3. t. 205. Flowers whitish-purple. 

 Perhaps the same as Oph. ciliata. 



Wallich's Ophelia. PI. 1 to 2 feet. 



4 O. TE'RES (D. Don, mss.) flowers 5-cleft ; leaves lanceolate, 

 acuminated, 3-nerved, scabrous, petiolate, ciliated ; calycine 

 segments mucronate ; segments of corolla ovate-lanceolate, acu- 

 minated, longer than the calyx ; filaments monadelphous ; stem 

 terete. 0. H. Native of Nipaul, at Gosaingsthan. Swertia 

 racemosa, Wall. cat. no. 4377. Flowers white, but dark purple 

 at the base. 



Terete-stemmed Ophelia. PI. 2 to 3 feet. 



5 O. FLORIDA; flowers 4-cleft? leaves sessile, lanceolate, 

 3-nerved, acuminated, becoming gradually narrower and smaller 

 as they approach the top; calycine segments linear-setaceous, 

 longer than the corolla before its expansion, but are afterwards 

 about equal in length to it ; segments of corolla oblong, mucro- 

 nate ; flowers corymbose and racemose. . S. Native of the 

 Burmese empire, at Prome, and on mount Taong Dong. Swer- 

 tia florida, Wall. cat. no. 4382. The flowers of the plant from 

 Prome are paniculately corymbose ; and those of the plant from 

 Taong Dong, are paniculately racemose. Lower leaves petiolate. 



Flowery Ophelia. PI. 2 feet. 



6 O. CHIRA'YTA (D. Don, mss.) flowers 5-cleft; leaves sessile, 

 ovate, acute, 5-nerved ; calycine segments ovate-lanceolate, 

 acuminated ; segments of corolla oblong, bluntish, shorter than 

 the calyx. Q. H. Native of Nipaul. Swertia latifolia, Royle, 

 herb. Flowers very pale blue. 



Chirayta Ophelia. PI. 1 to 2 feet. ? 



7 O. PORRIGENS (D. Don, mss.) flowers 4-cleft ; leaves linear, 

 acute, glabrous : with revolute edges ; calycine segments lan- 

 eeolate, acuminated ; segments of corolla ovate, mucronulate, 

 longer than the calyx ; stem tetragonal. 0. H. Native of 

 Nipaul. Swertia pulchella, Ham. ex Wall. cat. no. 4375. 

 Swertia elegans, Wall. cat. no. 4376. is only a slight variety of 

 this species. 



Stretching Ophelia. PI. 1 foot. 



8 O. CORDA'TA ; flowers 5-cleft ? leaves ovate, cordate at 

 the base, 5-nerved; panicles axillary and terminal, racemose; 

 calycine segments ovate, acuminated, about equal in length to 

 the segments of the corolla, which are also nearly similar in 

 shape. . H. Native of Kamaon. Swertia cordata, Wall, 

 cat. no. 4378. Stem branched, tetragonal ; angles slightly 

 winged ; wings rather scabrous. 



