Erythrcea.] gentianace^. 309 



crowded into a csespitose tufl (rosulate), and wholly or in part decaying before the 

 plant comes into flower, smaller than those on the stem and of a paler yellowish 

 green, ovate, ovate-elliptical or elliptical-oblong, obtuse or pointed, attenuated 

 into a short petiole ; cauline leaves distant, opposite, sometimes, according to Bertolini 

 (Fl. Ital. iv. p. 311), ternale and veiticillate, completely connato-perfoliate, * very 

 broadly ovate, acute or somewhat acuminate, mostly curving upwards, with their 

 points erect, the central leaves the largebt, dull yellowish green, with a glaucous 

 bloom, 3- or obscurely 6-ribbed. Stipules none. Flowers in a terminal repeatedly 

 di-trichotomously forked panicle at the summit of the stem and branches ; divi- 

 sions of the panicle erect, with a pair of leaves at each bifurcation. Peduncles 

 erect, ebracteate, single-flowered. Calyx cleft either quite or nearly to the bot- 

 tom into 8 subulate, very acute or somewhat awned segments, which are rounded 

 or convex at the back, with a single prominent keel-like rib, concave in front, with 

 thin, narrow, membranous edges. Corolla longer than the calyx, sometimes an 

 inch or rather more in diameter, usually about the size of a shilling, the limb 

 rotate, cleft into 8 ovate or ovate-elliptical, obtuse or subacute, spreading seg- 

 ments, of a bright golden (or sometimes palish) yellow, greatly exceeding the 

 short, obscurely quadrangular, membranous tube, entire or not unfrequently 

 notched at the apex, persistent and spirally conduplicate on the tup of the ovary 

 after flowering, which last is covered with the now much-distended delicately 

 transparent tube, like a fine pellicle. Stamens inserted on the top of the tube and 

 between the segments of the limb, shorter than the latter ; filaments equal, flattish 

 and tapering, bright yellow ; anthers erect, not spirally twisted after flowering, 

 glabrous, but at length becoming invested with woolly filaments, f Oermen 

 (ovary) as long as the tube of the corolla, elliptical-oblong, obtusely quadrangular, 

 with a deep furrow along two opposite faces (sutures), full of a greenish yellow 

 very glutinous but scarcely bitter juice. ;S(^/e short, quadrangular, more or less 

 deeply bifid, each division emarginate and bearing on their outer face the heart- 

 shaped, glaudulose, pilose, yellow stigmxi. Seeds numerous, very minute, yellow- 

 ish brown, irregular, ovate or oblong, covered with large, deep, angular 

 excavations. 



This is one of our most beautiful native plants, not rare in England and "ire- 

 land, though unknown in Scotland in the wild state. The golden yellow flowers 

 expand only in sunshine or a strong light, closing early in the afternoon (about 

 2 o'clock) for the rest of the day, and not unfolding again until the following 

 morning. When a handful of the plant is gathered and placed in water, its beau- 

 tiful blossoms will continue to open and close at the accustomed hour for several 

 successive days ; when once shut, exposure to the sun's rays proves insufiicient 

 to stimulate them to expand a second time, till the usual period of repose has 

 elapsed. 



II. Erythe.^a, Renealm. Centatiry. 



"Calyx 5-cleft. Corolla funnel-shaped, withering, its limh 

 short. Anthers at length spirally twisted. Style 1, deciduous. 

 Stigmas 2. Capsule Hnear, 2-celled." — Br. Fl, 



1. E. Centaurium, Pers. Common Centaury. " Stem nearly 

 simple, leaves ovate-oblong, flowers nearly sessile fasciculate-pani- 



* In a small specimen I have seen from Cheshire the leaves are quite distinct 

 and cordate at base, being probably the var. ;8. minor of DC. and var. ^. pusilla ■ 

 of Gaudin. 



f These woolly filaments seem rather to belong to the style, and to adhere 

 casually only to the anthers. They appear to proceed from the splitting of the 

 exterior (vascular ?) coat of the style and stigmas into a multitude of capillary 

 fibres, varying in amount according to the advanced state of the ovary. 



