POLEMONIACE.E — ASCLEPIADACE.E 417 



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

 native perennials are often cultivated. 



P. reptans, Linn. Greek valerian. Stems rather weak, diffusely branch- 

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

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

 entire margins: flowers nodding, light blue corolla .'5 times as long aa 

 calyx, not over } 2 in. broad. 



P. Van Briintiae, Hrit. Jacob's ladder. Tall, erect to 1-3 ft., smooth or 

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

 long panicles; stamens and style longer than corolla-lobes; corolla 1 in. 

 broad. 



XLI. GENTIANACE.E. Gentian Family. 



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

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

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

 petalous, with 4-8-lobed margin, and with 4-8 stamens, inserted 

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

 very showy. 



GENTlANA. Gentian. 



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

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

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

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



G. crinita, 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, lJ^-2 in. long, 

 funnelform, with 4 spreading lobes, having the margins cut into a fringe 

 all around: leaves clear green, lanceolate, acute, sessile. 



G. procera, Holm. Similar to the preceding, but smaller and corolla 

 less fringed: leaves linear. 



G. Andrewsii, Griseb. Closed gentian. Perennial: stems simple, smooth, 

 to about 1 ! 2-2 ft.: leaves ovate to lanceolate, with narrow base: flowers 

 in terminal, sessile clusters: corolla blue with notched folds or appendages 

 on the margin, never opening. 



XLII. ASCLEPIADACE.E. Milkweed Family. 



Perennial herbs or shrubs, often vines, with milky juice: leaves 

 opposite or sometimes whorled, exstipulatc: flowers generally in umbels, 

 regular and 5-parted, but very peculiar in the structure and connection 

 of stamens, stigma and pollen: hood-like appendages are borne be- 

 hind the anthers, forming a corona about the stigma; stamens 5 with 



