74 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



often denticulate. Plant glabrous, dark-green ; leaves paler beneath, 

 with the margins very finely cartilaginous-serrate. 



Calathian Violet 



French, Gentiane & Feuillcs iZtroites. German, Gemeine Genziane. 



This pretty little plant is worthy of cultivation, and is quaintly mentioned by 

 Gerarde, who says, " The gallant ilowres hereof bee in their bravery about the end of 

 August," and he tells us that "the later physitious hold it to be effectual agaiust 

 pestilent diseases, and the bitings and stingings of venomous beasts." 



SPECIES II.— GENTIAN A VERNA. Linn. 



Plate DCCCCXV. 



Reich. 1c Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XVII. Tab. MLXVIII. Fig. 4. 

 BiUot, Fl Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 1935. 



Root-fibres slender. Rootstock much branched, shortly creep- 

 ing, emitting numerous stolons with scale-like leaves. Flowering- 

 stem simple, very short. Radical leaves in a rosette, oval or oblong- 

 oval ; leaves of the flowering-stem oblong-oval, very shortly connate 

 at its base ; all sub-acute, flat, 1-nerved. Flower solitary, terminal, 

 with 2 oval leaf-like bracts near the base of the calyx. Calyx- 

 tube prismatic, sharply 5-anglcd or 5-winged ; segments 5, strap- 

 shaped-lanceolate, one-third the length of the tube. Corolla-tube 

 not quite twice as long as the calyx, cylindrical, without hairs in the 

 throat ; limb of 5 broadly-oval obtuse segments, about one-fourth 

 the length of the tube, not ciliated, alternating with 5 minute 

 teeth about one-sixth of their own length. Capsule sessile or 

 sub-sessile. 



On rocky and stony places in limestone districts. Rare. Along 

 the course of the Tees, from Mickle Fell, down to Cronkley 

 Scars, and between Gort and Galway and Burrin, co. Clare. 



England, Ireland. Perennial. Spring. 



Plant oncspitosc, the divisions of the rootstock terminating in 

 rosette-like tufts of leaves j to f inch long. Flowering-stems very 

 short, sometimes not more than ^ inch when in flower, lengthening 

 in fruit till from 1 to 3 inches long. Calyx-tube with 5 raised 

 lines or wings, which are decurrent from the midribs of the seg- 

 ments. Tube of the corolla about 1 inch long ; limb f to 1 inch 

 across, dark vivid-blue. Plant green, glabrous. 



Spring Gentian. 



French, Gentiane PrintanUre. German, Friihlimjs Gen:iune 



