gentianacEj3s. 539 



alarming lock-jaw, and i of a grain has killed a dog. Effects anta- 

 gonistic to the action of Strychnia are produced by the Calabar bean. 

 Some species of Strychnos seem not to possess a poisonous principle in 

 large quantity, for they are used as tonics and febrifuges. Among them 

 may be noticed Strychnos potatorum, and pseudoquina. The former is 

 called Clearing-nut, and is used in India for purifying water. The 

 root of Spigelia marilandica, Carolina Pink-root (fig. 311, p. 203) is 

 used as an anthelmintic, more particularly in the United States. S. 

 Anthelmia, Guiana Pink-root, is employed in Demerara for a similar 

 purpose. These plants also possess narcotic qualities. 



Order 119. — Gentian ACBiE, the Gentian Family. (Monopet. 

 Hypoff.) (Fig. 269, p. 182.) Calyx gamosepalous, usually in 5 divi- 

 sions, sometimes 4-6-8 or 10 divisions, persistent. CoroUa gamo- 

 petalous, hypogynous, usually regular and marcescent ; limb sometimes 

 fringed, divided into as many lobes as the calyx ; sestivation plaited 

 or imbricate-twisted. Stamens inserted upon the corolla, alternate with 

 its segments, and equal to them in number, some of them occasionally 

 abortive. Ovary composed of 2 carpels, unilocular or partially bilo- 

 cular (fig. 423, p. 242); ovules 00; anatropal; style 1 ; continuous; 

 stigmas 1 or 2. Fruit capsular or baccate, 1-celled (fig. 423, p. 242), 

 usually bivalvular, with septicidal, or rarely loculicidal dehiscence. 

 Seeds 00, small ; embryo straight, minute, in the axis of soft fleshy 

 albumen ; radicle next the hUum. — Herbs, seldom shrubs, with oppo- 

 site (fig. 269, p. 182), rarely alternate, entire or divided, exstipulate 

 leaves, which are often 3-5-ribbed. The plants of the order are dis- 

 tributed generally over the globe, inhabiting both cold and warm 

 regions. They are rare in the' arctic and antarctic islands. They 

 exhibit great varieties of colours, and many are prized for their beauty. 

 There are two tribes : — 1. Gentianese, aestivation of corolla imbricate- 

 twisted, leaves opposite, simple, and entire. 2. Menyanthese, aestiva- 

 tion of corolla plaited or induplicate, leaves usually alternate and com- 

 pound, or divided. Authors mention 67 genera, including 484 species. 

 Examples — Gentiana, Chironia, Agathotes, Erythrsea, Chlora, Meny- 

 anthes, Villarsia. 



The general property of the plants of this order is bitterness, 

 which pervades all their organs. Hence they are used as tonics. 

 The medicinal gentian is the root of Gentiana lutea, a plant which 

 grows abundantly on the Pyrenees, and on the Alps of Switzerland 

 and Austria, usually at an elevation of 3000 to 5000 feet. It produces 

 showy yellow flowers, and its root is yellow internally. It is adminis- 

 tered in the form of extract, infusion, tincture, and wine, as a tonic. 

 Its roots are often mixed with the roots of other species, such as Gen- 

 tiana punctata, purpurea, and pannonica. Gentiana Kurroo of the 

 Himalayas has similar properties. The British species, Gentiana eam- 

 pestris and Amarella, have also been used as bitter tonics. The 



