582 



ORDER 95. GENTLANACE^E. 



high, paniculate above. Loaves 1 2f by i If entire. Flowers rose-color, not 

 inelegant. Jl. The use of this nauseous and poisonous weed has become almost 

 universal, and illustrates the despotic power of habit. Sir Walter Kaleigh has 

 the honor of first introducing the practice of smoking into England, more than 

 200 years ago, and in his house at Islington, is still to be seen a shield bearing his 

 arms, with a tobacco-plant at the top. (Loudon.) 



3 N. longiflora Cav. With long, spreading branches ; Ivs. acuminate, radical 

 ovate-lanceolate, short-petioled, cordate-lanceolate, sessile ; fls. lateral, solitary, 

 pedicellate, arranged in a simple terminal raceme ; cor. tube filiform, very pubes- 

 cent, 5 times longer than the calyx, segments lance-ovate, acute. Gardens South. 

 Cor. white, variegated with purple and yellow. 



13. FABIANA inflbricata Ruiz. & Pav. is a fine little shrub resembling 

 a Tamarix, with small (6" long) ovate Ivs. covering the numerous branches and 

 small violet-white fls. \ Chili. 



ORDER XCV. GENTIANACE^E. GENTIANWORTS. 



Serbs smooth, with a colorless, bitter juice, with entire, exstipulate leaves. Flow- 

 ers regular, mostly centrifugal in inflorescence and convolute in the bud. Calyx per- 

 ristent ; corolla withering, its lobes alternate with the stamens. Ovary free, 1 -celled 



with 2, more or less projecting par- 

 ietal placentae. Fruit a 2-valved, 

 septicidal, Go-seeded capsule, rare- 

 ly baccate. Seeds with a minute, 

 straight embryo in the axis of 

 fleshy albumen. 



Genera 60, species 450, found in every 

 part of tho world. 



vw / A \ Properties. An intensely bitter prin- 



tt Z I 1. 1) \ ciple called gentianine pervades the 



whole order without exception, residing 

 in every part, rendering them tonic and 

 febrifugal. The gentian of the shops is 

 most commonly the product of Gen- 

 tiana hi tea, but most other species, and 

 species of other genera, as Limnanthe- 

 iniiin, Sabbatia, Frasera, &c., are valued 

 in medicine for the same properties, and 

 may be used in its stead. Many are 

 cultivated for ornament. 



Fig. 664. 1, Gentinna Andrews?!. 

 2, The calyx and capsule. 3, The cor- 

 olla laid open, showing the folds (2- 

 lobed) between the proper petals, and 

 the stamens attached at base. 4, Cap- 

 sule cut across. 5, Seed magnified, with 

 its large, loose testa. 



TRIBES AXD GEXERA. 



II. MENYANTHE.S. C<*r. valvate-induplicatc in tho bud. Leaves alternate or radical, (a) 



a Petals beardless or nearly so. -Leaves simple, Hoating LIMXANTIIEMUM. 9 



a Petals bearded inside. Leaves trifoliate, erect MENYANTHES. 8 



I. GENTIANE/E. Corolla convolute (in No. 7, imbricate) in the bud. Leaves opposite, (b) 



b Sepals only 2. Corolla 4-parted, tubular cnmpanulate OBOLAKIA. T 



b Sepals as many as the petals, more or less united, (c) 



C Corolla lobes furnished each with a spur in the midst , HALENIA. 6 



C Corolla lobes furnished each with a large central gland FEASEBA. 5 



C Corolla lobes plain, without spurs or glands, (d) 



d Leaves reduced to scales. Corolla deeply 4-parted BARTONIA. 4 



d Leafy Corolla tubular, blue or white GENTIANA. B 



Corolla tubular, rose or pink ERYTHEMA. 2 



Corolla rotate, rose or piak SABBATIA. 1 



