GENTIANACE^L. 



260 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



3. A. QUADRIFOLIA (Four-leaved Milkweed). Smooth ; stem erect, 

 slender, simple ; leaves ovate, smooth and thin, mostly in whorls of 4 ; um- 

 bels few. loose ; pedicels filiform, marked with a pubescent line ; segments 

 of the corolla white, tinged with pink ; hoods of the crown white, 2-toothed ; 

 horn stout and thick. In dry woods, 1-2 feet high. July. 



Order LIII. GENTIANACE^E {Gentian Family). 



Herbs, usually smooth, with a watery juice. Leaves usually 

 opposite, rarely alternate, radical or single. Flowers regular, 

 usually terminal or axillary, often showy. Calyx of 4-12 sepals, 

 united at base. Corolla convolute, sometimes induplicate in pre- 

 floration, 4~i2-parted, regular. Stamens as many as the seg- 

 ments of the corolla, inserted on the tube, alternately with them. 

 Ovary i -celled, free, sometimes apparently 2-celled, on account of 

 the 2 introflexed placentae. Style I, or wanting. Stigmas usually 

 2, sometimes i. 



Leaves opposite, f Leafy plant Gentiana. 

 sessile \ 



[ Leaves reduced to scales Bartonia. 



Leaves alternate, f Leaves simple Limnanthemum. 



petioled < 



( Leaves trifoliate Menyanthes. 



I. Gentiana. Calyx 4-5-cleft. Corolla marcescent, regular, tubu- 

 lar at base ; limb 4-5-cleft. Stamens 4-5, inserted on the corolla-tube. 

 Stigmas 2, persistent. Capsule i-celled, 2-valved, many-seeded. 



1. G. CRINITA (Fringed Gentian}. Stem round, erect, branching; 

 branches spreading at base ; leaves lanceolate, sessile, cordate, or rounded at 

 base ; flowers of a rich blue, solitary, showy, terminating the branches ; calyx 

 4-angled, 4-parted ; corolla campanulate at base, open at summit, expand- 

 ing when the sun shines ; segments fringed on the margin. In low, grassy 

 meadows, io'-i5' high. October. 



2. G. ANDREWSII (Soap-wort Gentian). Smooth ; stem erect, simple ; 

 leaves lanceolate, acute or narrowed at base, 3-veined ; flowers large, pur- 

 plish-blue, in sessile heads ; corolla inflated, club-shaped, closed at top. 

 Stem 1-2 feet high. September-October. 



2. Bartonia. Calyx 4-parted. Corolla deeply 4-cleft ; segments 

 but slightly united, erect. Stamens short. Stigma large, persistent, at 

 length 2-lobed. Capsule oblong, i-celled, 2-valved. (T) 



B. TENELLA (Screw-stem). Stem slender, erect, square, branching above ; 

 leaves minute, scale-like ; flowers small, yellowish-white, 1-3 on the opposite 

 branches ; style none. Damp grounds, 3'-8' high. August. 



3. Limnanthemum. Calyx 5-parted. Corolla-tube short ; limb 

 5-lobed ; lobes deciduous, fringed merely at the base or margin. Style 



