582 



ORDER 95. GENTIANACE^E. 



high, paniculate above. Leaves 1 2f by ^ If entire. Flowers rose-color, not 

 inelegant Jl. The use of this nauseous and poisonous weed has become almost 

 universal, and illustrates the despotic power of habit. Sir Walter Ealeigh has 

 the honor of first introducing the practice of smoking into England, more than 

 200 years ago, and in his house at Islington, is still to be seen a shield bearing his 

 arms, with a tobacco-plant at the top. (Loudon.) 



3 N. longiflora Cav. With long, spreading branches ; Ivs. acuminate, radical 

 ovate-lanceolate, short-petioled, cordate-lanceolate, sessile ; fls. lateral, solitary, 

 pedicellate, arranged in a simple terminal raceme ; cor. tube filiform, very pubes- 

 cent, 5 times longer than the calyx, segments lance-ovate, acute. Gardens South. 

 COT. white, variegated with purple and yellow. 



13. FABIANA imbricata Ruiz. & Pav. is a fine little shrub resembling 

 a Tamarix, with small (6" long) ovate Ivs. covering the numerous branches and 

 small violet-white fls. f Chili. 



ORDER XCV. GENTIANACE^E. GENTIANWORTS. 



Herbs smooth, with a colorless, bitter juice, with entire, exstipulate leaves. Flow- 

 ers regular, mostly centrifugal in inflorescence and convolute in the bud. Calyx per- 

 sistent ; corolla withering, its lobes alternate with the stamens. Ovary free, 1-celled 



with 2, more or less projecting par- 

 ietal placentae. Fruit a 2-valved, 

 septicidal, co-seeded capsule, rare- 

 ly baccate. Seeds with a minute, 

 straight embryo in the axis of 

 fleshy albumen. 



Genera 60, species 450, found in every 

 part of the world. 



Properties. An intensely bitter prin- 

 ciple called gentianine pervades the 

 whole order without exception, residing 

 in every part, rendering them tonic and 

 febrifugal. The gentian of the shops is 

 most commonly the product of Gen- 

 tiana lutea, but most other species, and 

 species of other geneva, as Limnanthe- 

 mum, Sabbatia, Frasera, &c., are valued 

 in medicine for the same properties, and 

 may be used'iu its stead. Many are 

 cultivated for ornament. 



Fig. 664. 1, Gentiana Andrewsii. 

 2, The calyx and capsule. 3, The cor- 

 olla laid open, showing the folds (2- 

 lobed) between the proper petals, and 

 the stamens attached at base. 4, Cap- 

 sule cut across. 5, Seed magnified, with 

 its large, loose testa. 



TRIBES AND GENERA. 



II. MrcsYANTnE^;. Cor. valvate-induplicate in the bud. Leaves alternate or radical, (a) 



a Petals beardless or nearly so. Leaves simple, floating LIMNANTUEMUM. 9 



a Petals bearded inside. Leaves trifoliate, erect MENYANTHES. 8 



I. GENTiANEiE. Corolla convolute (in No. 7, imbricate) in the bud. Leaves opposite, (b) 



b Bep'als only 2. Corolla 4-parted, tubular cumpanulate OBOLAEIA. 7 



b Sepals as many as the petals, more or less united, (c) 



C Corolla lobe*Arnisbed each with a spur in the midst , HALENIA. 6 



C Corolla lobes furnished each with a large central gland FBASEEA. 5 



Corolla lobes plain, without spurs or glands, (d) 



d Leaves reduced to scales. Corolla deeply 4-parted BAETONIA. 4 



d Leafy. Corolla tubular, blue or white GENTIANA. 3 



Corolla tubular, rose or pink ERYTHEMA. 2 



Corolla rotate, rose or pink SABBATIA. 1 



