IBS GENTIANE^E. [VMarsia. 



4. CHLORA. Linn, Yellow-wort. 



Calyx 8-parted. Corolla hypocrateriform ; the tube short, the 

 limb 8-parted. Stamens 8, very short, inserted in the orifice. 

 Style \. Stigma 4-cleft. Capsule 1-celled. Name derived 

 from -)(\wpo<s. pale or yellowish-green, in allusion to the colour 

 of its flowers. Octandria. Monogynia. 



1. C. perfoliata. Linn. Perfoliate Yellow-wort. Leaves 

 perfoliate; panicle forked, many-flowered. Br. Fl. 1. p. 174. 

 E. Fl. v. ii. p. 218. E. Bot. t. 60. 



Plentiful in the County of Dublin, chiefly on a limestone soil ; (it is 

 however found in fields about Kingstown over granite-) At the marble 

 quarries near Kilkenny, and in Lord Desert's demesne. South Isles of 

 Arran ; Messrs. Ball and Thomson. Not found in the northern 

 counties or in Scotland. Fl. July Sept. Q. 



Menyanthece. 



Leaves alternate, usually toothed or divided. 

 5. MENYANTHES. Linn. Buck-bean. 



Calyx 5-parted. Corolla funnel-shaped; the limb spreading, 

 5-parted y bearded internally, with a simple margin. Stigma 

 capitate, with from two to five furrows. Glands 5, hypogy- 

 nous, alternate with the stamens. Capsule 1-celled, 2-valved ; 

 the valves bearing the seed in their axis. Leaves ternate. 

 Name ^v^ a month, and ai/0os, a floiver. Sir J. E. Smith 

 says the blossoms continue in perfection about a month. 



Pentandria. Monogynia. 



1. M. frifoliata, Linn. Common Buck-bean. Leaves ter- 

 nate; disk of the corolla densely shaggy. Br. FL 1. p. 91. . 

 Fl. v. i. p. 274. E. Bot. t. 495. 



Marshy places, boggy ground, &c. frequent. FL June, July. 1. 

 Roots densely creeping and matted, so as often to render the boggy 

 ground firm where the plant grows. Leaves ternate, stalked ; leaflets 

 obovate, obscurely toothed. The base of the leaf is sheathing, whence 

 arises a flower-stalk supporting a compound raceme or thyrsus, of 

 many white flowers, tipped externally with red and beautifully fringed 

 with white filaments within. " In the Highlands of Scotland, employed 

 as tea, it is considered to strengthen weak stomachs. It cures the dis- 

 ease called darn in cattle ; and is sometimes used as a substitute for 

 hops, (Mr. Gibb.) All these qualities indicate the bitter principle 

 which abounds so much in the Gentian tribe.' 9 Hooker. 



5. VILLARSIA. Vent. Villarsia. 



Calyx 5-parted. Corolla somewhat rotate, the limb spreading, 

 5-parted, smooth in the disk, bearded or scaly at the base, 



