582 



Order 95.— GENTIANAOE-^. 



high, paniculate above. Leaves l— 2f by I — If entire. Flowers rose-color, not 

 inelegant., Jl. — The use of this nauseous and poisonous weed has become almost 

 universal, and illustrates the despotic power of habit. Sir "Walter Raleigh has 

 the honor of first introducing the practice of smoking into England, more than 

 200 years ago, and in hia house at Islington, is still to be seen a shield bearing-his 

 arms, with a tobacco-plant at the top. (Loudon.) 



3 N. longifldra Cav. "With long, spreading branches ; Ivs. acuminate, radical 

 ovate-lanceolate, short-petioled, cordate-lanceolate, sessile ; fis. lateral, solitary, 

 pedicellate, arranged in a simple terminal raceme ; cor. tube filiform, very pubes- 

 cent, 5 times longer than the calyx, segments lance-ovate, acute. — Gardens South. 

 Cor. white, variegated with purple and yellow. 



13. FABIANA imbric^ta Ruiz. & Pav. is a fine little shrub resembling 

 a Tamarix, with small (6" long) ovate Ivs. covering the numerous branches and 

 '. small violet- white fls. f Chih. 



Order XCY. GENTIANACE^. Gentianworts. 



Serbs smooth, with a colorless, bitter juice, with entire, exatipulate leaves. Flow- 

 ers regular, mostly centrifugal in inflorescence and convolute in the bud. Galyx per- 

 eistont ; corolla withering, its lobes alternate with ihQ stamens. Ovary free, 1-celled 



with 2, more or less projecting par- 

 l ietal placentae. Fruit a 2-valved, 

 I septicidal, Go-seeded capsule, rare- 

 ly baccate. Seeds with a minute, 

 straight embryo in the axis of 

 fleshy albiimen. 



Gen&ra 60, species 450, found in every 

 part of the "vvorld. 



Properties. — An intensely bitter prin- 

 ciple called gentianine pervades the 

 whole order without exception, residing 

 in every part, rendering them tonic and 

 febrifugal. The gentian of the shops is 

 most commonly the product of Gen- 

 tiana lutea, but most other species, and 

 species of othet genera, as Limnanthe- 

 mum, Sabbatia, Frasera, &c., are valued 

 in medicine for the same properties, and 

 may be used in its stead. Mauy are 

 cultivated for ornament. 



Fig. 664. 1, Gentiana^ Andrewfiii. 

 2, The calyx and capsule. 3, ThecoT- 

 olla laid open^ showing the folds (2- 

 lobed) between the proper petals, and 

 the stamens attached at base. 4, Oap- 

 sulo cut across. 5, Seed magnified, with, 

 its lai^o, loose testa. 



Tribes and Genera. 



II. Mbnyantke-e,— Cor. valvate-induplicato in the bud. Leaves alternate or radical, (a) 



a I'etals beardless or nearly so. Leaves simple, floating Limnakthemitm. 9 



a Petals bearded inside. Leaves trifoliate, erect Menyantiies. 8 



I, Gbstiane-g. — Corolla convolute (in No. 7, imbricate) in the bu(L Leaves opposite, (b) 



b Sepals only 2. Corolla 4-parted, tubular campanulatc Obolakia. 7 



b Sepals as many as the petals, more or less united, (c) 



c Corolla lobes fnrnisbed each with a spur in the midst , Halenia. 6 



C Corolla lobes furnished each with a large central gland Feaskua. 5 



O Corolla lobes plain, without spurs or glands, (d) 



d Leaves reduced to scales. Corolla deeply 4-parted Bartonia. 4 



d Leafy.— Corolla tubular, blue or white Gentiana. S 



— Corolla tubular, rose or pink EHTTHB^fiA. 2 



— Corolla rotate, rose or piak Sabbatia. 1 



