614 



GENTIANACE.E. 



[Perigynous Exogens. 



The Order of Gentianworte is not more remarkable for the diversity of its colours 

 than it is for the uniformity of the secretions which its various species exhibit. Bitter- 

 ness in every part, root, leaves, flowers, fruit, in annuals, perennials, and shrubs, is so 

 much their characteristic that the following account of the purposes to which they are 

 applied is little more than a list of repetitious ; with this exception, that they in some 

 cases prove narcotic and emetic. 



The common Gentian root of the druggists, a pure and intense bitter, is for the most 

 part Gentiana lutea, an herbaceous plant, with axillary whorls of yellow flowers, common 

 on the Alps of Europe. It is principally employed as a tonic, but sometimes relaxes 

 the bowels, producing nausea and a kind of intoxication. G. campestris and Amarella, 

 common on the heaths and hills of some parts of England, are domestic substitutes ; as 

 are G. Catesbsei in the United States, G. Kurroo in the Himalayas, and G. punctata, 

 pannonica, purpurea, and others, on the Continent of Europe. G. cruciata has been 

 superstitiously believed to possess especial virtues because its leaves grow in the form 

 of a cross, and it is one of the thousand panaceas for hydrophobia. Agathotes Chirayta, 

 a Himalayan annual, is remarkable for the pureness of its bitter. The whole plant is 

 pulled up at the time the flowers begin to decay, and dried for use. Its febrifugal 

 properties are in high estimation with European practitioners in India, who use it in- 

 stead of Cinchona when the latter is not to be procured. Cicendia hyssopifolia, a com- 

 mon Indian annual, Erythrsea Centaurium (Centaury), a beautiful little wild plant, with 

 pink flowers, Chlora perfoliata, various species of Lisianthus, Tachia, Sabbatia, Coutoubea, 

 &c. &c, possess qualities very nearly of the same kind, varying principally in intensity, 

 and are employed as substitutes for Gentian in different countries. The root of Frazera 

 Walteri, a North American biennial, is a pure, powerful, and excellent bitter, destitute 

 of aroma, and is fully equal to Gentian. When fresh it is reported to be emetic and 

 cathartic. The roots have been imported into Europe as a sort of Calumba, and have 

 acquired in consequence the name of American Calumba. Menyanthes trifoliata, a com- 

 mon bog plant, called Buck Bean (quasi Bach or Beck, i. e. Brook Bean) is intensely 

 bitter. Its rhizome is reckoned one of the most valuable of known tonics ; but large 

 doses produce vomiting, and frequently powerful diaphoresis. It is recommended in 

 intermittent and remittent fevers, gout, herpetic complaints, rheumatism, dropsy, scurvy, 

 and worms. Withering says that it may be used as a substitute for Hops in making 

 beer. Villarsia nymphoides acts in a similar way, but is weaker. 



GENERA. 



I. Gentiane^e. — Corolla 

 imbricated. 



Gentiana, Tournef. 



Asterias, Ren. 



Cwlantha, Froel. 



Coilantha, Borkh. 



Dasystephana, Ren. 



Cuttera, Raf. 



Pneumonanthe, Bung. 



Dasycephala, Borkh. 



Ciminalis, Borkh. 



Thylacites, Ren. 



Crossoccphalum, Froel. 



Crossopetalum, Roth. 



Urananthe, Gaud. 



Oentianella, Borkh. 



Ericala, Ren. 



Ericoila, Bork. 



Calathiana, Froel. 



Chondrophyllum, Bng. 



Erithalia, Bung. 



Tetrorhiza, Ren. 



Endotnche, Froel. 



Eurythalia, Ren. 



C'yanea, Ren. 



Oreophylax, Endl. 

 Pleurogyne, Eschsch. 



Lomalogonium, A. Br. 



Trochantha, Bung. 

 Swertia, Linn. 

 Stellera, Turcz. 

 Anagallidium, Griseb. 

 Ophelia, Don. 



Monobothrium, Hochs. 



Agathotes, Don. 



llenricea, Leui. Lis. 

 Frasera, Walt. 

 llalenia, Borkh. 



Tetragonanlhus, Stell. 

 Chironia, Linn. 



Rceslinia, Miinch. 

 Plocandra, E. Met/. 

 Gyrandra, Oris. 

 Orphium, E. Mey. 



Valerandia, Neck. 

 Exacum, Linn. 

 Lapethea, Oris. 

 Voyra, Aubl. 



Vohiria, Juss. 



Lita, Schreb. 



Hnmboldtia, Neck. 



Leiphaimos, Schlecht. 

 Ixanthus, Griseb. 

 Hippion, Spreng. 



Slevoptia, Reichenb. 

 Cicendia, Adans. 



Microcala, Link, et H. 



Franqucvillia, Gray. 



Hippocentaurea, Schlt. 

 Centaurella, L. C. Rich. 



Centaurium, Pers. 



Bartonia, Miihlenb. 



Andreu-sia. Spreng. 

 Erythrsea, Ren. 



Xunthea, Reichenb. 

 Zygostigma, Griseb. 

 Canscora, Lam. 



Ptadera, Sol. 



Hoppea, Willd. 



Pootia, Dennst. 

 Orthostemon, R. Bi 

 Sabbatia, Adans. 

 Chlora, Linn. 



Blackstonia, Huds. 



Xanthanthus, Griseb. 

 Callopisma, M. et Zitcc. 



Dejanira, Cham. 

 Schultesia, M. et Z. 

 Hockinia, Gardn. 



Anacotus, Griseb. 

 Pagaea, Griseb. 

 Petalostylis, Griseb. 



Omphalostigma, Gris. 

 Lisyanthus, Aubl. 



Lisianthus, Linn. 



Macrocarptea, Griseb. 



Sphterocarpeea, Griseb. 



Choriophyllum, Gris. 



Chelonanthus , Griseb. 

 Irlbachia, Hart, et Zucc. 

 Helia, Mart, et Zucc. 

 jEnstoma, Don. 



Urammthus, Griseb. 

 Leianthus, Griseb. 

 Coutoubea, Aubl. 



Cutubea, Mart. etZucc. 



Picrium, Schreb. 

 Prepusa, Marl, el Zucc. 

 Tachiadenus, Griseb, 

 Symbolanthus, Don. 

 Tachia, Aubl. 



Myrmccia, Schreb. 



Leiothamnus, Griseb. 

 Eudoxia, Don. 

 Crawfurdia, Wall. 

 Belmontia, E. Mey. 

 ExochBenium, Gris. 

 Sebasa, Soland. 

 Lagenias, E. Mey. 

 Schlibleria, Mart. 



Curtia, Cham. 



Thurnheissera, Pohl. 

 Apophragma, Griseb. 

 Exadenus, Griseb. 

 Besfontainia, R. et S. 



Linkia, Pers. 

 ? Henicostemma, Blum. 

 ?Tripterospermum, Blm. 

 1 Micraea, Miers. 

 Glyphospermum, Don. 



II. Menyanthes. — Co- 

 rolla induplicate. 



Menyanthes, Linn. 



Menonanthes, Haw. 

 Villarsia, Vent. 



Nympheeanthe, Rchb. 



Renealmia, Houtt. 



Trachysperma, Raf. 



Cumada, Jon. 

 Limnanthemum, Gmel. 



Nymphoides, Tournef. 



Waldschmidia, Wigg. 



Schwcyckhe rta, Gmel. 

 ? Mitreola, Linn. 



Cynoctonum, GmeL 



Numbers. Gen. 60. Sp. 450. 



CinchonacecB. 

 Position. — Orobanchacese. — Gentianace^:.- 



Polemoniacece. 



