148 PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



erect, with clusters of purple or white flowers towards the sum- 

 mit, and smooth, nerved leaves ; plant of a light-green ; on low 

 grounds ; September. Cultivated by the Shakers, at Hancock, for 

 its medicinal properties. 



This would be a fine plant for fall flowers in gardens. 



6r. pneumonanthe. L. Marsh Gentian. A smaller plant than 

 the preceding, but much like it ; axillary flowers solitary ; swamps 

 in the vicinity of Boston. 



G. crinita. L. Fringed Gentian. Flowers delicate and 

 beautiful, bluish, with the border cut into numerous segments like 

 fringe, and growing on branches towards the top ; stem about a 

 foot high ; wet places and damp soils ; September. 



G. quinqueflora. L. Gentian. Another beautiful plant, 

 about a foot high, with clusters of bluish flowers in the axils of 

 the leaves ; abundant on hilly grounds in the western part of the 

 State ; September and October. 



The last two species would be great additions to the flowering 

 plants of gardens, as they blossom in autumn, and bear abundance 

 of flowers for a considerable time. 



More than 60 species of this genus have been described ; more 

 than 20 are cultivated in England ; 10 species are found in North 

 America ; a wide-spread genus. 



Villarsia. Gmelin. 5. 1. 



V. lacunosa. Vent. Floating Heart. Spur Stem. Named 

 after a French botanist, Villars ; a genus of aquatic plants, natives 

 of both continents. 



This species has very splendid petioles, bearing heart-shaped, 

 floating leaves ; flowers small and white on the leaf-stalks ; vicinity 

 of Boston. Big. 



Menyanthes. L. 5. 1. 



M. trifoliata. L. Buck Bean. Bears flower-stalks and 

 leaves at short distances along a horizontal root ; flowers white in 

 a conical cluster ; leaves finely ternate ; medicinal. Bigelow's 



