,V' V ,; GENTIAN AC EM. 4(55 



bright-green, obovate, undulate, smooth, ternate, at the end of a long striated footstalk. 

 Flowers in a loose spike at the extremity of an erect, round, smooth scape, longer than 

 the-Jeaves, sheathed at base. Calyx divided into five, somewhat spreading segments. 

 Corolla somewhat funnel-shaped, deeply cleft into five spreading or recurved, pointed 

 'segments, of a white' colour tipped With rose, smooth externally and covered with dense 

 white, shaggy fibres on the inner surface. The ovary is conical and supports a long 

 slender style with a bilobate stigma. The capsule is ovate, succulent, 1-celled, containing 

 several small, roundish seeds. 



It is found in most parts of the world 'where the climate is temperate or 

 cold, in moist, boggy soils, or even in ponds and ditches, flowering in this 

 country in April and.JVlay. . Rafinesque-is of opinion that'^he plant of North 

 America is specifically, different from that of Europe, and 4ias called it M. 

 verna, but other botanists consider it identical, the only observable difference 

 being, that it is smaller. The whole-plant is medicinal, but the root alone is 

 recognrsed by the U. S. Pharmacopoeia. It has no odour, but is intensely 

 bitter. It has been analyzed by Tromsdorff, and found to contain Bitter Ex- 

 tractive, Albumen, Green resin, a peculiar Matter, precipitable by tannin, 

 but soluble in water, Fecula, Malic acid, &c. 



Medical Properties. — In smaU doses tonic and astringent; in large ones 

 cathartic and sometimes emetic, "especially when given in the fresh state. It 

 is rarely employed in medicine, but is analogous in its action to gentian and 

 centaury, and may be employed in all cases to which they are applicable. 

 At one time it was in high repute in rheumatism, dropsy, scurvy, and worms, 

 and Cullen speaks favourably of it in obstinate cutaneous affections. It is 

 used in some parts of Europe as a substitute for hops in brewing. It may 

 be given in powder, infusion, or extract ; the dose of the first is a scruple to 

 half a drachm; the usual mode is in infusion, made with half an ounce of the 

 dried root to a pint of boiling water, the dose of which is an ounce or two. 



Besides these plants, several others of the order merit a short notice. The 

 Sivertia perennis is used in Siberia as a vulnerary, and it is considered that 

 the Pleurogyne rotata is equally efficacious (Pallas, Voy. iv. 465). Accord- 

 ing to Aublet, Schidtesia stenophytta and Apophragma tenuifolia are esteemed 

 as febrifuges (Guiane, i. 71). Several species of Lisianthus are employed 

 in South America: thus L. purpurascens and L. grandiflorus are noticed 

 by Aublet, and the L. pendulus and L. amplissimus by Martius (Jour. 

 Chim. Med. iii. 448), as powerful tonics and febrifuges. The younger Lin- 

 nseus (Supp/em. 134) states, that L. chelonoides acts as a powerful purga- 

 tive, which is also the case with the Eustoma exaltata. The roots of 

 Coutoubea ramosa and C. spicata are said to be febrifuge, deobstruenl, and ver- 

 mifuge. (Aublet, Guiane, i. 73.) De Candolle speaks of Villarsia ovata as 

 used as a tonic at the Cape of Good Hope. Limnanthemiim indica is es- 

 teemed a holy plant by the Chinese on account of its many virtues {Mem. 

 Acad. Dijon, 1829, 204), and the L. nymphoides has some reputation as a fe- 

 brifuge in Europe, whilst it congener, L.peltata, is employed in like manner in 

 Japan, where they also use the leaves as a culinary vegetable. (Thunberg, 

 Voy. iv. 76.) Cicendia hyssopifolia is stated by Wight and Arnott to be 

 bitter, and useful as a stomachic in decoction or powder. In large doses it 

 is laxative. (Comp. to Bot. Mag. ii. 250.) 



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