GENTIANACE^ 215 



Pastures in the primitive or granitic Alps, less often on limestone. 

 Often abundant from 3800-8500 feet. May to August, according to 

 position. 



Distribution. — Eastern, Central, and Western Alps ; Jura, 

 Cevennes, Corbi^res, Pyrenees, Central Europe ; Carpathians. 



The beautiful and very rare white variety drawn by Mr. Flemwell 

 was found by him near the Hotel du Planet, above Argentiere. 

 (Plate XXV.) 



Gentiana Clusii Perr. et Song. Ind. PI. nouv. rares et crit. Savoie. 



Stem short, often almost wanting. Radical leaves coriaceous, 

 stiff, lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, acute or acuminate. Stem- 

 leaves much smaller, oval-lanceolate, sharply acuminate ; upper- 

 most stem-leaves rough at the edges. Corolla always peduncled 

 (peduncles much elongated after maturity), azure-blue, not spotted 

 or streaked with green. Calyx-lobes always very acute, not con- 

 tracted at the base, about half length of calyx-tube ; sinus usually 

 acute. 



Alpine pastures on limestone, and limestone rocks from 4000-8500 

 feet, lower in the Jura, and in Cantons Vaud and Zurich. May to 

 July. 



Distribution. — Carpathians, Eastern, Central, and Western Alps ; 

 Jura, Cevennes, Pyrenees, N. Spain, Central Italy, Dalmatia, 

 Bosnia, Servia, Montenegro. 



Sometimes this species and G. Kochiana seem to mutually exclude 

 the other in their respective areas. 



Gentiana angustifolia Vill. Hist. Dauph., 2, p. 526. 



Stem 3-4 inches high, erect. Rosette leaves linear-lanceolate, 

 narrow, obtuse, or shortly acuminate, 3-5 times as long as broad, 

 soft and shiny. Calyx-lobes spreading, acute, and contracted at 

 the base, the sinus between the calyx-lobes being broad. Corolla- 

 lobes acute. Flowers solitary, very large. 



Limestone Alpine pastures ; rare. May to July. 



Distribution. — Central and Western Alps ; rare in Switzerland. 

 Jura, Cevennes, Pyrenees. 



Gentiana verna L. Spring Gentian. (Plate XXVI.) 



Stem erect, simple, few-leaved, i-flowered, 1-4 inches high. 

 Leaves ovate, elliptical or lanceolate, acute, the lowest in rosettes, 

 the upper i or 2 pairs distant. Corolla saucer-shaped, 5-cleft, throat 

 white. Flowers light or dark azure-blue, varying considerably, 

 and occasionally mauve or white. In Flemwell's Flower Fields 

 of Alpine Switzerland (1911) is a beautiful and unique picture 

 showing all these varieties of colour. ^ 



Meadows and pastures from the plains to at least 10,000 feet 

 J These cglguf forms are also shown in Plate XXVI. 



