POLEMONIACE^ — GENTIANACE^ 385 



ceolate, rounded at base, acute at tip, sessile, pubescent: corolla large, gray- 

 ish blue or lilac, the lobes notched: calyx-teeth slender and longer than 

 tube. Moist woods. Spring. 



P. Bubul^ta, Linn. Ground or moss pink. Stems creeping, tufted, much 

 branclied and leafy, forming a moss-like carpet over the ground: leaves 

 about /^ in. long, rigid, linear to awl-shaped, spreading in clusters: flowers 

 3 to 6 in depressed clusters, white to pinkish-purple: lobes of corolla shorter 

 than tube. Spring. 



P. Drummbndii, Hook. From Texas, now the common annual phlox in 

 gardens: stems branching, spreading, about 1 ft. high, rather <lowny- 

 clamray: flowers showy, in corymbs; various colors and patterns on the 

 corolla and lobes variously notched. 



2. POLEMdNIUM. 



Perennial herbs, with alternate pinnately compound leaves: calyx com- 

 panulate, segments erect over fruit: corolla bell-form or rotate: stamens 

 slender, declined, hairy at base, inserted on corolla base. The following 

 native perennials are often cultivated: 



P. r^ptans, Linn. Greek valerian. Stems rather weak, diffusely branch- 

 ing (not creeping), 6 in. to l}4 ft.: leaves smooth, of 7 to 13 leaflets, occa- 

 sionally a simple one: leaflets lance-ovate or oblong, about 1 in. long, with 

 entire margins: flowers nodding, light blue: corolla three times as long as 

 calyx, not over >^ in. broad. 



P. caeriileum. Linn. Jacob's ladder. Tall, erect to 1 to 3 ft., smooth or 

 hairy: leaflets 9 to 17, lanceolate, crowded: flowers bright blue, in erect 

 long panicles: stamens and style longer than corolla lobes: corolla 1 in, 

 broad. 



XLI. GENTIANACE^. Gentian Family 



Generally smooth herbs, with bitter, colorless juice (tonic proper- 

 ties): entire leaves mostly opposite, sessile and without stipules: 

 flowers regular, solitary or in clusters : calyx persistent ; corolla mono- 

 petlaous, with 4- to 8- lobed margin, and with 4 to 8 stamens, inserted 

 on tube: capsule 2-valved, many-seeded. Some 600 species, many 

 very showy. 



GENTIANA. Gentian. 



Herbs in low woods and damp grounds, flowering mostly in autumn : 

 flowers solitary or in clusters and showy, usually blue: corolla tubular, 

 lobes 4 to 7, open or closed, some having a membranous fold in each of the 

 notches of the limb: stamens 4 to 7: style short or wanting. 



G. crinlta, Froel. Fringed gentian. Annual, in moist soil, blooming in 

 September and October: distinguished by the beautiful flowers, solitary and 

 terminal on erect stems (stems about 1 ft. tall), pure blue, 1]^ to 



