364 THE GEKTIAIT FAMILY. 



ripen, and opening by a longitudinal slit on the inner side. Seeds several, 

 without the seed-down of many exotic genera of the Order. 



Leaves broadly ovate, and segments of the calyx ciliate on their mar- 

 gins. Flowers large 1- Larger P. 



Leaves narrow-ovate, and calyxes quite glabrous. Flowers small . . 2. Lesser P. 



The V. rosea, a tropical species with erect stems, is often cultivated in 

 our hothouses. 



1. Larger Periwrinkle. Vinca major, Linn. 



(Eng. Bot. t. 514) 



A perennial, with a creeping rootstock, long, traihng barren shoots, and 

 nearly erect, simple flowering stems, about a foot high. Leaves broadly 

 ovate, evergreen, and shining, but bordered by minute hairs. Pedicels 

 shorter than the leaves. Calyx-segments narrow, ciliate on the edges. Co- 

 rolla large, blue ; the tube broad, almost bell-sliaped, though slightly con- 

 tracted at the mouth ; the lobes broad, ahnost angular. 



In woods and shady banks, in soutli-central and southern Europe to the 

 Caucasus, but, having been long cultivated for ornament, and spreading with 

 great rapidity by its rooting stems, it lias estabUshed itself much further 

 north, and is found apparently wild in many parts of England, where, how- 

 ever, it seldom, if ever, ripens its seed. Fl. spring. 



2. Iiesser Periwinkle. Vinca nxinor, Linn. 



(Eng. Bot. t. 917.) 



Differs from the last in its smaller size, more trailing habit, with short, 

 erect flowering stems ; in its narrower, ovate or oblong leaves, which are 

 perfectly glabrous ; in its smaller flower, with a more open tube to the co- 

 rolla, and shorter and broader segments to the calyx, without any hairs. 



Its geographical range is more extended than that of the greater P., 

 being undoubtedly wild much further northwards, and more abundant in 

 England, but yet, like that species, it is probably with us an introduced, not 

 a truly indigeuous plant. Fl. spring and summer. 



L. THE GENTIAN FAMILY. GENTIANACEiE. 



Herbs more or less bitter, usually glabrous, with the excep- 

 tion of a few exotic species ; the leaves opposite and entire, 

 without stipules ; the flowers in terminal, dichotomous cymes 

 or panicles, with a single flower in each fork. Calyx of 4, 5, 

 or rarely 6 to 8 divisions. Corolla regular, with a straight or 

 open tube, sometimes very short, and a spreading limb of as 

 many divisions as the calyx, usually twisted in the bud. Sta- 

 mens as many as the divisions of the corolla, and alternating 

 with them. Ovary of a single cell, or partially divided into 2. 

 Capsule opening in 2 valves, with many seeds. 



A rather large and very natural Order, extending nearly all over the 

 world, but chiefly in temperate or mountain regions, some species ascending 

 to the utmost limits of vegetation. 



