Getttmnacecz Gentiana. 303 



high, remarkable on account of the leaves being joined to- 

 gether or connate by their bases. The bright yellow flowers 

 are borne in trichotomous cymes. There is a fine variety in 

 cultivation with flowers about an inch in diameter called gran- 

 diflora. Besides the above we may mention the Centaury, 

 Erythrcea Centaurium, a pretty annual with small pink or 

 white flowers ; and Gentiana Pneumondnthe, a perennial 

 species from 1 to 2 feet high, bearing large deep blue flowers 

 towards the end of Summer. 



1. GENTIANA. 



Perennial or annual herbs. Leaves opposite, often ribbed. 

 Flowers regular, solitary or cymose, often very brilliantly 

 coloured. Calyx 4- or 5-lobed or spathaceous. Corolla funnel- 

 or salver-shaped, 4- or 5-lobed, or rarely more ; throat of 

 the tube naked or bearded, or furnished with scales. Stamens 

 4 or 5. Fruit a 2-valved 1 -celled many-seeded capsule. This 

 is an extremely beautiful genus of plants, comprising about 

 150 species, found in nearly all temperate and alpine regions. 

 Gentiana is the classical name for some of the species. 



1. G. acaulis (fig. 169). Ofentianella. This is one of 

 the most beautiful and at the same time one of the easiest- 



Fig. 169. Gentiana acaulis. (J nat. size.) 



grown species of the genus. It is a perennial, attaining a 

 height of 2 to 4 inches, bearing solitary terminal intense blue 

 flowers of large size. The throat of the corolla is naked, and 

 the calyx-lobes closely applied to the corolla-tube. A native 

 of the Alps, flowering in Spring or Summer. G. exclsa, in- 

 cluding G. alpina, is very closely allied to the foregoing, but 

 differs in its spreading calyx-lobes. 



2. G. vrna. A dwarf tufted species resembling the last in 



