NATIVE WILD FLOWERS 



This species somewhat resembles the European G. Pneu- 

 monanthe ( Linn. ) , which is also known by the same poetical 

 English name. In Sowerby's " English Botany," under the 

 head of the last named species, we find : " This pretty little 

 plant is worthy of cultivation, and is quaintly mentioned by 

 Gerarde, who says, i the gallant flowres hereof bee in their 

 bravery about the end of August/ and he tells us that ' the 

 later physitions hold it to bee effectual against pestilent 

 diseases, and the bi tings and stingings of venomous beasts.' ' 



Our Gentians are the last tribute with which Nature 

 decks the earth her last bright treasures ere she drops her 

 mantle of spotless snow upon its surface. 



We find our latest flowering Gentian early in September, 

 and as late as November. If the season be still an open one, 

 it may be seen among the red leaves of the Huckleberry and 

 Dwarf Willows on our dry plains above Kice Lake and 

 farther northward. The Gentians seem to affect the soil 

 on rocky islands and gravelly, open, prairie-like lands, 

 among wild grasses. The finest, most luxuriant plants of 

 G. Andrewsii were gathered on islands in our back lakes, 

 growing in rich mould in rocky crevices. The Five-flowered 

 Gentian may be found on dry banks and open grassy wastes, 

 while again the exquisite azure-blue single-flowered Dwarf 

 Fringed Gentian (Gentiana detonsa Fries) prefers the 

 moist banks of rivulets and springs. In drier places may be 

 seen the stately many-flowered taller blue Fringed Gentian, 

 G. crinita (Froelich). There is also a charming intermediate 

 form of G. crinita, about a foot high, with fewer flowers, but 

 of a richer, fuller azure tint. It is of the Fringed Gentian 

 that the poet Bryant writes : 



" Thou blossom bright with Autumn dew, 

 And colored with heaven's own blue, 

 That openest when the quiet light 

 Succeeds the keen and frosty night. 



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