GKN'IIANE.E 



in Europe it is blue, yellow and white being uncommon. They 

 are mostly herbs, erect and glabrous, with oj)posite, simi)le, sessile 

 leaves, and often large, brilliantly coloured* flowers which are pol}'- 

 symmetric and usually 5-merous. 'Vhe calyx is inferior, persistent, 

 usually 5-, but sometimes 4 — S-clcft ; corolla often persistent, 

 twisted when in bud, with lobes equalling those of the calyx in 

 number, and often fringed about tlic mouth of the corolla-tube ; 

 stamens equalling in number, and alternate with, ihe lobes of the 

 corolla ; carpels 2, united in a i-chambered ovary, with i style und 

 2 stigmas : fruit a many-seeded capsule. All the members of the 

 Order are intensely bitter, and form valuable 

 tonic medicines. Gentiiiini lutea, collected in 

 the mountains of central and southern Europe, 

 is the species most commonly employed ; but 

 there is little doubt thkt other species might be 

 employed with equally good effect. 



1. MiCROC.ALA. — Little branched ; flowers 

 yellow, 4-merou5 ; rflii™ tubular ; ("ory/Zi/, funnel- 

 shaped ; siigiiia undivided. 



2. Bl,\l.:KbT(j^'l \. — J.enves perfoliate: flowers 

 yellow ; calyx deeply 6 — 8-clelt ; corolla rotate, 

 6 — S-lobed ; stamens 6 — 8 ; stigma 2 — 4-cleft. 



3. (Jilntaurion. — Flowers mostly 5-merous ; 

 corolla funnel-shaped; :i7.H///er5 becoming spirally 

 twisted ; sliginas 2. 



4. Cir:F,Ni)i,\. --- Branched ; flowers pink, 

 4 — 5-merous ; calyx-lobes divided to the base ; 

 corolla salver-shaped ■,*stameiis 4 ; stigma 2-fid. 



5. Gr.NTiANA.- 'Flowers mostly 5-merous ; 

 corolla funnel- or salver-shaped, tube sub- 

 clavate ; anthers not twisted ; stigmas 2. 



6. Mkn VAN inKS. — Leaves scattered, ternate ; 

 flowers 5-merous; corolla funnel-shaped, with 5 lobes, induplicate 

 in the bud, fringed all over the inner surface. 



7. Nymphoides. Leaves simple, orbicular, floating ; flowers 5- 

 merous ; corolla rotate, with 5 lobes, mtiuphcate in the bud, 

 fringed at the base only. 



MICROCAlA FlUFt'iRIMlS 



{Least Gcntiaiicltn). 



\. INIiCROCALA ( Gentianella ). - A minute, slender, little- 

 branched plant ; flowirs small, yellow, .|-merous ; ("r(/\'.v tubular ; 

 corolla funnel-shaped ; stamens 4 ; aiitliers not twisted ; style 

 not persistent ; stigma uiidnided. (Name from the Greek micros, 

 small, faios, beautiful.) 



I. M. filijormis (Least Gentianella). — 'I'lie only British species, 



