Wild Flowers East of the Rockies 269 



DOWNY GENTIAN (Gentiana puberula) is a hand- 

 some species springing from a perennial root, the 

 simple, straight stem, rising from 8 to 18 inches high; 

 the stem is usually rough and slightly hairy. The 

 light green leaves are stiff and seated oppositely on 

 the stem. The flowers are borne in terminal clus- 

 ters or, sometimes, from the axils of the upper 

 leaves; they are bell-shaped with five triangular, 

 slightly spreading lobes. In color they are brilliant 

 violet blue. The sharply toothed calyx is less tnan 

 half the length of the tube of the corolla; it is quite 

 rough to the touch. 



Downy Gentian is common in dry fields and on 

 prairies from Pa. to Ga. and west to Minn, and Mo., 

 flowering during September and October. 



SOLITARY GENTIAN (Gentiana Porphyrio) is a 

 pretty little species growing in moist places from 

 southern N. J. to Fla. The simple, slender stem 

 ranges in height from 6 to 15 inches and bears at the 

 summit a solitary, erect, bell-shaped flower, of a 

 light ultramarine blue color; the five, spreading lobes 

 are notched at their bases. The flower is very large 

 compared to the stem and leaves of the plant it grows 

 upon; the blossom measures from 2 to 2 1-2 inches 

 long, which is about the length of linear leaves that 

 are oppositely set on the stem. 



AGUE-WEED (Gentiana quinquefolia) is a smaller 

 and more common Gentian. It grows on moist hill- 

 sides from Me. to 111. and southwards. It is an an- 

 nual with a ridged, four-sided stem growing 8 to 22 

 inches high. The leaves are stiff, pointed and slight- 

 ly clasping at their bases. The violet blue flowers 

 are clustered at the end of the stem usually in fives, 

 although sometimes we may find from two to seven 

 in a group. The five lobes have sharp bristle-like 

 points. All the Gentians have bitter juices that are 

 used medicinally. 



