GENTIAN ACE. E. 287 



Jlowers all on short pedicels; corolla-tube thriee as long as the elliptical-oblong 



Wet meadows or shady places; rare; probably introduced. July. Stem 2 to 6 

 inches high, many tune," forked above and forming a diffuse cyme. Leaves J^ to 

 ;•', Inch long, \,\ inch wide, closely sessile. OoraUa, bright purple, tube yellowiah- 

 green, slender, persistent and withering on the capsule. 



3. BAETONIA, Muhl. (Centaurella, Miehx.) 



Dedicated in the year 1801, to the late P, of. Rirton, of Philadelphia. 



Calyx 4 : parted. Corolla deeply 4-cleft, without glands 

 fringes or folds. Stamens 4, short. Stigma thick, glandu- 

 lous and partly bifid. Capsule oblong, pointed, 1 -celled, 

 2-valved, many-seeded. — Small annual or biennial erect herbs, 

 .with slender stems, awl-shaped greenish scale like leaves, and small 

 yellowish white pedunclcd Jlowers. 



Yj. tenella, Muhl. Small-flowered Bartonia. Screw-stem. 



Stem smooth, branched above, branches mostly opposite, 1 to 8-fiowered; leaves 

 awl-shaped, minute; eorolla as long as the calyx; Style very short. 



Open woods and damp grounds. Aug., Sept. Sttra 3 to 10 inches high, square, 

 efien twisted. Peduncles opposite or term'.nal, simple or branched. Flowers em til 

 greenish wbito, on tb.3 ends of the branches. St vm in the clefts of the 



corolla. (J:\rvuuEi.iA Mjssai, Griib., is oaiy a variety With the Bcaiee and pe- 

 .d uncles mostly opposite, 



4. GENTIANA, Linn. Gentjan. 



From G.nlius, king of Illyria, who discovered the tonic virtues of this genus. 



Calyx 4 to 5-cleft, Corolla 4 to 5-lobcd, regular, most- 

 ly with intermediate plaited folds, which bear appendages at 

 the sinuses. Stamens 4 to 5, inserted upon the tube of the 

 corolla, short. Style short or none; stigmas 2, persistent. 

 Capsule oblong, 2-valved, many-seeded. — Herbs of various 

 habits, with irpposite leaves, and solitary or cymose showy 

 Jlowers. 



* Corolla without crown or plaited folds ; annual. 



1. G. QUINQUEFLORA, Lam. Fit( -flowered. Gentian. 



Stem -i-ang'ed, slender, branched ; leaves ovate-lanceolate, somewhat heart- 

 shaped and clasping at the base) 3 to 7 -nerved, minutely pointed; corc-Ua-loUs 

 triangular-ovate, bristle-painted, about y k as long as tho slender obconictl tube, 

 the tube 4 times as long as the subulate sepals. 



Hillsides and pastures. Aug.. Sept. Stem about 1 root' high, with the branches 

 raceimd or panicled, about 5 iiu-.veied at the summit. F lowers about i inch long, 

 light, purplish-blue. 



** Corolla with plaited folds ; perennials. 



2. G. Saponaria, L. Soapwort Gentian. 



Stem erect or ascending, often roughish above; leaves ovate-lanceolate, oblong or 

 l&nce-obovate, with rough-m irgins, narrowed at the base; czlyx-loles linear or 

 spatulate, acute, about }•£ as long as the corolla; coroUa ciul-bell-shaped, with 



