222 OENTIANACE^E. 



nlso ill {,'ciiti;m, the latter bciii'j^ a bittfr principlo, and apparently the most 

 iniportimt iiu'cliciiial constituent of tlio plants. 



J 'reparations. — Coniinonly adnunistercil in iiifunion. 



Medical I'roperlie.ii and CVx. — In the recent Htate, American colunibo 

 iH said to be emetic, and cathartic, but when dried it appoarH to possess 

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

 state, it has been employed as a subHtitute for rhubarb, but it is, at l)est, 

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

 or true columbo. 



GENTIANA— Gkntian. 



fVifirarfer of the. Gents: — Calyx 4- to H-cleft. Corolla 4- to 5-lobed, 

 usufdly with intermediale smalhu" segments. Stamens 4 to /). Ovary 

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

 2-valved, man}' seeded capsule. 



Perennial herbs with opposite, ribbtnl leaves. Flowers solitary or 

 cymose, commonly blu(>, though sometimes white, yellow, or even red, 

 appearing 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 we selected more as common representatives of the genus 

 as found in dirt'orent 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-partod, the 

 lobes obovate, wedge-shapod, the summit tinely and beautifully fringed. 

 Stamens 4 ; filaments as long as the corolla-tube. Pod sliort-stalkcd. 



Stem erect, smooth, 1 to 2 f<>et 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. 



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

 ward. A common and very beautiful species. 



Gentiana ochroleuca Froel. — Yiilon-ixlMrhife Gentian. 



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

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

 half longer than the calyx. Antliers erect, separate. 



Stem ascending ^ 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 IJ inch long, greenish-white, striped with green and purple 

 veins within. 



HaJntat.-^ln dry grounds from Southern Pennsylvania southward. 



