72 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



Glabrous biennials, with the leaves often connate. Flowers in 

 terminal dicbotomous cymes, bright-yellow, opening in sunshine. 



The name of this genus of plants conies from the Greek word ^Kupoe (cMoros), 

 greenish-yellow, probably owing to the colour of the blossoms. 



SPECIES I.— C HLORA PERFOLIATA. Linn. 



Plate DCCCCXIII. 



Reich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XVII. Tab. MIX. Fig. 1. 

 Billot, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 2313. 



Radical leaves obovate-elliptical, attenuated into an indistinct 

 petiole ; stem-leaves connate, deltoid-ovate, united by their whole 

 base. Flowers numerous, in a corymbose cyme. Calyx 8-partite ; 

 segments strapsbapcd-subulate. Segments of the corolla oblong- 

 obovate, sub-obtuse, often denticulate at tbe apex, nearly twice as 

 long as the tube, one-fourth or one-tbird longer tban the calyx- 

 segments. 



On chalky banks, not uncommon ; more rarely on clay. Pretty 

 generally distributed throughout England, as far North as the 

 counties of York and Lancaster, but most abundant hi chalk and 

 limestone districts. 



England, Ireland. Biennial. Late Summer. 



Stem 9 inches to 2 feet high, simple up to the inflorescence, 

 with a rosette of leaves at the base. Leaves rather distant, each 

 pair so completely united as to seem like a single leaf with the 

 stem passing through it, 1^ to 3 inches from point to point, entire, 

 acute or acuminated. Flowers stalked, in a regular dicbotomous 

 corymbose cyme. Calyx-segments \ to f inch long. Corolla about 

 f inch across when expanded, bright-yellow, with the segments 

 slightly recurved at the tips, the tube ruptured by the capsule as it 

 increases in size. Style 2-cleft at the apex ; each stigma 2-partite. 

 Capsule shorter than the calyx-segments. Plant glabrous and very 

 glaucous. 



Yellow Centaury. 



French, Chlore rcrfoliie. German, Durchwacliseaer Bitlerling. 



GENUS ir—G E N T I A N A. Tournef. 



Calyx 4- to 5-cleft or -partite, more rarely spathaceous and 

 dimidiate, or 8- or 10-partitc. Corolla funnelshapcd-salvershapert 

 or rotate, or campanulate, persistent and withering; tube long or 

 short ; limb 5- or 4-partite, frequently with appendices in the 



