Yinca.] AFOCYNACEJE. 269 



as long. Corolla blue-purple. Fruit rarely found. — Distrib. From 

 Denmark southd. (excl. Greece), W. Asia. 



V. ma'jor, L. ; flowerless-stems prostrate not rooting, leaves ovate or 

 cordate at the base ciliate, calyx-lobes ciliate equalling the corolla-tube. 

 Copses and hedges, naturalized ; fl. April-May. — Much larger in all its parts 

 than V. mi'nor ; flower less-stems not tough, rooting at the tip only ; flower- 

 ing erect in flower, elongating afterwards.— Disteib. Mid. and S. Europe, 

 N. Africa. 





Order XLIX. gentia'ne/e. 



Annual or perennial herbs. Leaves opposite, quite entire, rarely whorled 

 (alternate and 3-foliolate in Menyanthes, alternate and floating in Limnan- 

 themum) ; exstipulate. Flowers regular, solitary, or in 2-3-chotomous 

 cymes. Calyx inferior, 4-8-toothed or lobed ; lobes twisted or valvate in 

 bud. Corolla hypogynous,. often persistent, rotate campanulate or funnel- 

 shaped ; throat naked fimbriate or scaly ; lobes 4-8, usually contorted in 

 bud. Stamens 4-8, inserted on the corolla-tube, filaments filiform ; anthers 

 introrse, often extrorse during flowering. Ovary 1-2-celled ; style simple 

 or 0, stigma 2-fid or 2-lamellar ; ovules many, 1- or more-seriate on 2 

 opposite placentas, horizontal, anatropous. Capsule 1- or incompletely 

 2-celled, septicidally 2-valved, rarely indehiscent, many-seeded. Seeds 

 minute, testa reticulate, albumen copious fleshy ; embryo minute, cotyle- 

 dons small. — Distrib. Cold and temp, regions ; genera 50 ; species 520. 

 — Affinities. Close with Apocyna'cece. — Properties. Bitter and tonic. 



Tribe I. CHIRONIE-ffi. Leaves opposite. Corolla-lobes twisted. Style 

 slender. 



Corolla rotate. Stamens 6-8. Leaves perfoliate 1. Chlora. 



Corolla funnel-shaped. Stamens 4. Stigma peltate 2. Microcala. 



Corolla salver-shaped. Stamens 4. Stigma 2-lamellate 3. Cicendia. 



Corolla funnel-shaped. Stamens 5. Anthers twisted 4. Erythrsea. 



Teibe II. SWERTIEiE, Leaves opposite. Corolla-lobes twisted. Style short. 

 Corolla-tube suhclavate. Anthers straight. Stigmas 2 5. Gentiana. 



Teibe III. MENYAN'THEiE. Leaves alternate. Corolla in duplicate. 



Leaves 3-foliolate 6. Menyanthes. 



Leaves orbicular, floating 7. Limnanthemum. 



1. chlo'RA, L. Yellow-wort, Yellow Centaury. 



Annual or biennial, erect, glaucous herbs. Leaves broadly connate at 

 the base. Flowers yellow, in 3-chotomous cymes. Calyx 6-8 -partite. 

 Corolla rotate, persistent, 6-8-partite. Stamens 6-8, inserted on the throat 

 of the corolla. Ovary 1 -celled ; style 2 fid, deciduous, stigmas oblong 

 obtuse. Capsule septicidally 2-valved, many-seeded. Seeds minute, sunk 

 in the placentas. — Distrib. Europe, N. Africa, "VY. Asia; species 2. — 

 Etvm. x Xu >po s > yellow. 



