222 GENTIANACE^. 



also in gentian, the latter being a bitter princijole, and apparently the most 

 important medicinal constituent of the plants. 



Preparations. — Commonly administered in infusion. 



lledical Properties and Uses. — In the recent state, American columbo 

 is said to be emetic and cathartic, but when dried it appears to possess 

 only bitter tonic properties similar to those of gentian. In the recent 

 state, it has been employed as a substitute for rhubarb, but it is, at best, 

 a poor one ; while, as a tonic, the dried drug is much inferior to gentian 

 or true columbo. 



GENTIANA.— Gentian. 



Character of the Genus. — Calyx 4- to 5-cleft. Corolla 4- to 5-lobed, 

 usually with intermediate smaller segments. Stamens 4 to 5. Ovary 

 1-celled ; style short or absent ; stigmas 2, persistent. Fruit a 1-celled, 

 2-valved, many-seeded capsule. 



Perennial herbs with opposite, ribbed leaves. Flowers sohtary or 

 cymose, commonly blue, though sometimes wliite, yellow, or even red, 

 ai^x^earing late in summer or in autumn. 



All gentians are more or less bitter, and all possess medicinal activity, 

 though few indigenous species have been subjected to experiment. Those 

 described below are selected more as common representatives of the genus 

 as found in different sections of the country than because of their reputa- 

 tion as therapeutic agents. 



Gentiana crinita Froel. — Fringed Gentian. 



Description. — Calyx 4-cleft, the lobes unequal, ovate and lanceolate, as 

 long as the tube of the corolla. Corolla funnel-form, deeply 4-parted, the 

 lobes obovate, wedge-shaped, the summit finely and beautifully fringed. 

 Stamens 4 ; filaments as long as the corolla-tube. Pod short-stalked. 



Stem erect, smooth, 1 to 2 feet high. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, some- 

 what cordate or rounded at the base. Flowers solitary on long peduncles, 

 terminating the stem or simple branches. Corolla 2 inches long, sky-blue, 

 showy. 



Habitat. — In low grounds from New England to Wisconsin and south- 

 ward. A common and very beautiful species. 



Gentiana ochroleuca Froel. — Yellowish-white Gentian. 



Description. — Calyx 5-parted, the lobes linear, unequal, erect. Corolla 

 bell-shaped, with plaited appendages between the lobes, one-third or one- 

 half longer than the calyx. Anthers erect, separate. 



Stem ascending i to 1 foot high, mostly smooth. Leaves oblong or 

 obovate-oblong, narrowed at the base, the upper ones narrower and acute. 

 Flowers in a dense terminal cluster, and in axillary clusters. Corolla 

 open, 1 to 1^ inch long, greenish-white, striped with green and purple 

 veins within. 



Habitat. — In dry grounds from Southern Pennsylvania southward. 



