64 



FA2IILIAE GAIiDEX FLOIJ'EJIS. 



purplish-bluc, clotted within tlie tuLe ; tlie closed gentian 

 (6^. Audreivsi), a jicculiar plant; erect, the flowers in fine 

 clusters, closed at the top, deep blue; Ba^•arillu gentian [G. 

 ]ja varied), extremely beautiful, the leaves box-like, the 

 flowers large, numerous, of a fine Ijlue colour, a semi- 

 aquatic plant, and therefore quite unfit for a dry situation ; 

 and the vernal gentian [G. venia), probably the loveliest of 

 all, the flowers solitary, salver-shaped, the colour pure blue. 

 The Alpine botanist will not soon forget the day when he 

 first met with this jewel of the mountains, nor will he 

 f(jrget that he found it only in spots well watered, where it 

 seemed to riot on a diet of cold water and hard stones. 



The gentian takes its name frcmi Gentius, King of 

 Illyria, who discovered in these plants some wondrous 

 virtues. 



