GENTIANEiE. 147 



flowers in nodding clusters in the axils of the upper leaves, and 

 ends of branches ; seed in 2 long narrow follicles ; strong medici- 

 nal properties; Bigelow's "Medical Botany." About woods 

 and hedges and banks of streams. 



«#. cannabinum. L. Indian Hemp. Named from the hemp- 

 like fibres of the bark, which the Indians twist into strings. 



Stem smooth and branching, with narrower leaves than the 

 other, which are downy on the under side, and paler than above ; 

 flowers in terminal clusters ; borders of woods, and fields, arid 

 meadows ; June. 



A. hypericifolium. Ait. John's Dog's Bane. Stem about 

 2 feet high, with oblong, narrow leaves, and small greenish-white 

 flowers ; borders of woods. 



The first two would be ornamental flowering plants for gardens ; 

 rather herbaceous than shrubby. 



V inc a minor. L. Periwinkle. Is a beautiful evergreen creep- 

 ing plant, shrubby, bearing fine blue flowers for a long time, a 

 native of Britain, and cultivated for its early flowers and carpet- 

 like green, forming a beautiful covering for the sloping banks of 

 terraces. 



ORDER 197. GENTIANEiE. The Gentian Tribe. 



Stamens mostly 5, attached to the corolla, and equal to the 

 divisions of the corolla, or of the persistent inferior calyx ; ovary 

 single ; capsule or berry many-seeded ; leaves opposite, and 

 commonly sessile, entire ; flowers axillary or terminal. 



Gentiana. L. 5. 2. Gentian. 



After the King of Illyria, Gentius, who is said to have dis- 

 covered the medicinal properties of some of the species. Most 

 of the plants are handsome. 



G. saponaria. L. Soap Gentian. The leaves resemble 

 some lands of Saponaria, or Soapwort. Stem about 2 feet high, 



