41 



of this elegant and useful genus, and with exception of G. prostrata 

 also the only congener inhabiting the remote southern latitudes of 

 America as far as is known, since also G. Magellanica (Gaudich. in 

 Annal. des Scienc. Natur. v. 89) according to the description offered 

 seems to exhibit only one of the many forms of G. saxosa. 



Root simple or branched, variable in size, never very thick, 

 frequently perennial or at least biennial, the withered stems of 

 previous years' growth often visible on the flowering plant ; in low- 

 land localities the root perhaps annual, though seedlings flowering 

 the first year may deceptively appear as annual plants. Stems erect 

 or ascendent, from 1" to 2' high, singly or several or very many 

 from the root, in the latter case the plant when richly in flower 

 assuming a most ornamental appearance. Leaves flat, smooth, her- 

 baceous or sometimes coriaceous, from 2'" to 4" long, 1-8"' broad, of 

 equal color and somewhat shining on both pages, thinly 3-5-nerved, 

 the lateral nerves often partially obliterated ; radical leaves tapering 

 into a short or long petiole ; the stem-leaves opposite, often sessile 

 and distant, not vaginate ; the floral leaves similar to the stem-leaves, 

 but often smaller and occasionally alternate. Pedicels attaining 

 exceptionally a length of 3", but usually in various degrees shorter. 

 Calyx 3-6'" long, of nearly equal texture throughout; its lobes 

 acute or acuminate, not reflexed, unconnected beyond the tube by 

 any transparent membrane. Corolla quite smooth, membranous, per- 

 sistent, fragrant, 5-12'" long, generally to nearly three-fourths its 

 length 5-cleft, occasionally 4- 6- or 7-cleft, of a waxy white and 

 beautifully blue-veined, in some instances purplish- or pale-veined, 

 the veins darker inside ; its lobes acute or blunt ; the tube yellowish. 

 Filaments white or purplish, about half as long as the corolla, seldom 

 shorter, one-nerved, linear, almost flat, attenuated at the apex and 

 adnate base. Anthers blackish-green, turning yellow or bluish, 5-I'" 

 long ; their cells narrow-ellipsoid, bursting on the inner side, un- 

 connected below the middle. Pollen yellow. Glands between the 

 lowest adnate portions of the stamens forming a slight cavity sur- 

 rounded by a descendent somewhat callous almost semicircular or 

 semielliptic line. Stigmata blunt, divergent or slightly revolute, 

 almost semioval. Capsule subsessile, J-1" long, bursting towards 

 the summit. Seeds finally dark-brown, shining, J-^'" long. 



The plant participates in the peculiar odor and bitterness of other 

 Gentians. 



It is evident that the number of described Gentianse must be 

 largely reduced. 



