398 THE ALPINE FLORA 



None of this group are easy to grow, and it is only 

 in the moist climate of England that they may be seen 

 really acclimatised. They require a deep, porous and 

 not too moist soil, partial sun and yet at the same time a 

 distinct coolness in the air. 



G. Gaudiniana, Charpentieri, and Thomasii are hybrids 

 between species of the above group. Hybridisation 

 takes place naturally even in gardens according to 

 Kuznetzow who quotes a case which occured at St- 

 Petersburg among the fine specimens of M. Kesselring. 



G. Pneumonanthe*. A marsh plant of lower levels, 

 almost of the plains, if the Gentian can be a lowland 

 plant. Stem rigid, 8-20 in.; leaves many, opposite, the 

 upper linear, lanceolate, the lower reduced to simple 

 scales; flowers large, fine indigo cups, in compact clusters 

 on the upper part of the stems ; corolla with 5 triangular 

 lobes. August-September. Marshes at the foot of the 

 Jura, from Divonne to Bale, and those of the Rhone 

 valley, especially near the entrance into the Lake of 

 Geneva, etc. A white variety hos been found at Cobham, 

 in Surrey. 



G. ciliata (PI. LXXX1II). Small, autumn plant, with 

 lilac-tinted azure-blue flowers carried 1-7 on a slender, 

 short stem. Here and there a white variety may be 

 found. Seed is not easy to obtain, as it ripens very 

 late; consequently it is a rarity in gardens. Besides 

 one must confess that it is impossible to preserve over 

 winter. Still its beauty, unique even among Gentians, 

 compels one to try it in sunny fissures of limestone, 

 packed in rich loam and grit, or in turf alongside verna. 



The annual Gentians frequent the meadows and 

 pastures of the mountains. All are lowly, very flori- 

 ferous plants, with azure blue or violet flowers. The 

 best known is G. germanica (PI. LXXX1II); stem 8-12 



