32 PENTANDRIA. DIGYNLV 



A. PHYTOLACcoiDKs. Ell. Leaves broad-lanceoIate,subacuininate; umbels lateral, on long peduacleSc 



Synon. A. exaltata (acuminata.) Muhl. . Vulgo — Poke-leaved Swallow- wort. 



Ft. Latter end of June. Fr. mat- 



Hah. Borders of shaded rivulets: Ed. Darlington's: rare. About 4 feet high: flowers greenish white. 



Ohs. This is not a common species here, and is still more rarely to be found flowering. I have, howev- 

 er, some very fine specimens, collected in full bloom, in 1823, the flowers of which agree better with the 

 description given by Nuttall, than with that of Elliott, and Pursh. The petals are pcde green, and the nec- 

 taries whitish, tinged withpurple at base; nearly scentless. The leaves are very large, somewhat acuminate, 

 and remarkably resembling those of Phytolacca. I have not had an opportunity to observe the fruit. 



A. iNCARNATA. Ell. Branching above; tomcntosc; Icavcs lanceolate; umbels in pairs; horns exserted. 

 Fl. Middle of July, and after. Fr, mat. Last of September, and after. 



Jiab. Low, Swampy grounds; common. 2 to 3 feet high: flowers flesh colored; follicles smooth. 

 Obs. The more hairy variety, marked pulchra, by Pursh, is also frequent here. 



A. PURPURAscENS. Ph. Stem Simple; leaves ovate, villous beneath; umbels erect; nectaries lesupinate- 



Fl. Last of June. Fr. mat. 



Hab. Roadside, below Cheyney Jefieris's: rare. 2 to 3 feet high: flowers dingy purple. 



A. vARiEGATA. Ell. Leaves broad-oval, glaucous beneath; umbels terminal; peduncles tomentose. 



Synon. A. hybrida. Mx. 



FL Latter end of June. Fr. mat. 



Hah. Dry hills, and woodlands: Barrens &c. frequent. 2 to 3 feet high: flowers white, purple within. 



Ohs. Thfe leaves of this handsome species vary considerably in form. They are mostly a broad oval; 

 but sometimes ovate, obovate, and not unfrequently almost orbicular. 



A. OBTTJsiFOLiA. Mx. Leavcs sessile, obtuse, waved, glabrous; umbel terminal, on a long peduncle. 



Fl- Latter end of June. Fr. mat. Beginning of September. 



Ilab. Dry hills: Barrens, &c. not common. 2 to 3 feet high: flowers greenish purple; follicles smooth. 



A. QUADRiFOLiA. Ph. Lcavcs ovate-acuminate, in 4's on the middle of the stem; umbels terminal. 



Fl. Latter end of May. Fr. mat. Middle of August. 



Hah. Rich woodlands, and fence -rows: frequent. Ij to 3 feet high: flowers white; follicles smooth. 



§ 2. Leaves vertleillate, or scattered. 

 A. VERTiciLLATA. Mx. Stem simple, pubescent in lines: leaves narrow-linear? upright, mostly verticillate. 

 FL Middle of July, and after. Fr. mat. Middle of September. 



JTab. Sterile hills: Barren ridge: frequent, li to2feet high: flowers greenish white; follicles smooth. 



Obs. This species is almost exclusively confined to the sterile banks of serpentine rock; where it grows 

 plentifully along with Talinum, and some other plants equally local in their habitat. 



A- TUBEROSA. Ph. Hirsute; divaricately branching above; leaves oblong-lanceolaje; umbels corymbose. 



Fu/g:o— Pleurisy-root. Flux-root. Butterfly -weed. 



Fl. Beginning of July, and after. Fr. mat. 



Hab. Fence-rows, and old fields: frequent. About 2 feet high: flowers bright orange color. 



(yhs. The A. decumbens, of Wilid. which Pursh has very properly; I think, reduced to a variety of this, 

 is also frequent here. The stem is decumbent, and more hirsute; the leaves sublinear; and the flow- 

 ers of a rather deeper orange than the other. The common names of this species indicate medicinal pro- 

 ptnties; and it has het-n very popular, as a remedy in Dysentery, Pleurisy, &c. It is, however, but little at- 

 tended to of late; though the root is known to possess some cathartic powers,— and the powder is said to be 

 escharotic. See B-!rton''s collections for a MlU. Med. U. S. Some species of this genus afford a kind of 

 Flax, (from the fibrous coating of the stem.) of a very soft, silky texture; of which I have seen beautiful 

 samples, in the possession of Mr. Whitlow, the popular Lecturer on Botany. 



105. GENTIAN A. Nutt. Gen. 248. 

 [So named after Gentius, a king of lUyria; who is said to have first used it as a medicine- ] 

 Cal. half 5, or 4 cleft. Oor. base tubular, without pores. Stam. 5, or 4. Caps. 1 celled, 2valved. 

 G. CRiNiTA. Ph. Tetrandrous; branches elongated,! flowered; corolla 4 cleft, segments fimbriate. 

 I 'it/^'o— Fringed Gentian. 



Ft. I^ast of September, and after. Fr.mat. Middle of November. 



Hab- Hilly woodlands, and old fields: frequent. 1 to 2 feet high: flowers sky-blue. 



Ohs. This elogant plant seems to be in the rear of Flora's train — being, in many instances, overtaken by 

 the iVosl, and destroyed, hfrlore it ripens its seeds. It diflers from its congeners in several respects, and pre- 

 s-'^nts one of those irregularities which embarrass the student of the Sexual System. It is consjtantly Tei- 

 3 «;i(iro«s; the, calyx is 4 cleft, 4 angled, the angles alated; and the seeds, as remarked by that accurate ob- 

 .,tterver, Wr. NuUall, are curiously echinate, or hispid. Dr. Baldwin was of opinion that it ought to be 

 M:parated from Geniiana; and Jussieu asks "an genus dividendum?" But as there are other irregular spe- 

 tics,, and cUf i'ai.nly, on the whole, seems lo be a pretty natiiral ono- 1 have thought it best to retain it here. 



