NATIVE WILD FLOWERS 
This species somewhat resembles the European G. Pncu- 
monanthe (Linn.), which is also known by the same poetical 
English name. In Sowerby’s “English Botany,” under the 
head of the last named species, we find: “ This pretty little 
plant is worthy of cultivation, and is quaintly mentioned by 
Gerarde, who says, ‘the gallant flowres hereof bee in their 
bravery about the end of August,’ and he tells us that ‘ the 
later physitions hold it to bee effectual against pestilent 
diseases, and the bitings and stingings of venomous beasts.’ ” 
Our Gentians are the last tribute with which Nature 
decks the earth—her last bright treasures ere she drops her 
mantle of spotless snow upon its surface. 
We find our latest flowering Gentian early in September, 
and as late as November. If the season be still an open one, 
it may be seen among the red leaves of the Huckleberry and 
Dwarf Willows on our dry plains above Rice Lake and 
farther northward. The Gentians seem to affect the soil 
on rocky islands and gravelly, open, prairie-like lands, 
among wild grasses. The finest, most luxuriant plants of 
G. Andrewsti were gathered on islands in our back lakes, 
growing in rich mould in rocky crevices. The Five-flowered 
Gentian may be found on dry banks and open grassy wastes, 
while again the exquisite azure-blue single-flowered Dwarf 
Fringed Gentian (Gentiana detonsa — Fries) prefers the 
moist banks of rivulets and springs. In drier places may be 
seen the stately many-flowered taller blue Fringed Gentian, 
G. crinita (Frelich). There is also a charming intermediate 
form of G. crinita, about a foot high, with fewer flowers, but 
of a richer, fuller azure tint. It is of the Fringed Gentian 
that the poet Bryant writes: 
‘Thou blossom bright with Autumn dew, 
And colored with heaven’s own blue, 
That openest when the quiet light 
Succeeds the keen and frosty night.. 
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