286 GENTIANACE^E. 



5 to 12-parted, wheel-shaped. Stamens 5 to 12, with erect, 

 at length recurved authors. Style 2-parted, slender, with 

 spiral divisions. Capsule 1-cellcd, the valves a little intro- 

 flexed. — Biennials, with slender stems, and cymose-panided 

 handsome white or rose-purple flowers. 



1L S. angularis, Pursh. Common Centaury. 



Stem square and 4-angled, stiff erect, macli branched above; haves orate, or 

 ovate-heart-shnped, clasping; calyx-lobes lance-linear, nearly }/ 2 as long as the 

 corolla; corolla-lobes obovate-elliptieal. 



Dry neglected fields and river banks. July, Aug. StemVtto fO inches high, 

 with opposite many-flowered branches. Leayes closely embracing the 

 iuches long, ]4 to ^-A w i'- 6 ) ob.scu.yely 5-nerv . V/, inch in 



diameter, deep" rose color with a yellowish-green 5-rayed star in the centre. 



2. S. GRACILIS, Salisb. Slender Centaury. 



Stem, branches and peduncles very slender, diffuse; leaves linear, the lower rather 

 oblong; calyx-segments lincar-bristle-shaped, about as long as the corolla; corolla 

 5-parted, with elliptic-oblong obtuse lobes. 



Wet grounds. July, Aug. Stem 10 to 15 inches high, with long l'v 

 branches. Panicle terminal, with spreading few-flowered branches. Flowers pur- 

 pic, en long peduncles. 



8. S. STELLARIS, Pursh. Star-flowered Centaury. 



Stem weal:, nearly round; leaves oblong or ovate-lanceolate, the uppermost 

 linear; calyx-lobes linear-subulate, about half as long as the obovate lobes of the 

 corolla. 



Brackish meadows. Aug., Sept. Stem 12 to 18 inches high, slightly angular, 

 dichotoinous'y branched; branches elongated, 1-flowered. Leaves somewhat fleshy 

 1 to 2 inches long, sessile. Flowers bright purple-rose-color, with a yellow itar i-i 

 the centre, edged with crimson. 



4. S. CHLOltOLDES, Pursh. Large-flowered Centaury. 



Skm slender, weak, nearly round; leaves oblong-lanocolate, erect ; flowers 7 to 

 12 parted; sepals linear, shorter than the elliptical-lanceolate lobes of the corolla. 



Border of brackish ponds. July — Sept. S'em 2 to 3 feet high, loosely panicked 

 above, with few, 1-flowered branches. Leaves 1 to lj.£ inch long, opposit >, entire, 

 smooth, closely sessile, acute. Corolla \Yi to - inches in diameter, bright purple, 

 with a yellow base, segments spatulate, ro~unded at end. 



2. ERYTHEMA, Pers. Centaury. 



Gr. crulhros, red; from the color of the flowers. 



Calyx 4 to 5-parted, the divisions slender. Corolla 

 funnel-form, with a slender tube and a 4 to 5-parted limb, 

 which in withering twists on the pod. Stamens 5, rarely 

 4 '-; anthers after flowering spirally twisted. Style Blender, 

 single ; stigma capitate or 2-lipped. — Low and small branch- 

 ing annuals with subangular stems somewhat cuncate leaves, and 

 rose purple or reddish cymose flowers. 



E. ramosissima, Persoon, var. pulchella, Griseb. 



Low ;stevi simple below, 2-forked branched above; leaves ovate-oblong or ovai. 



