300 THE PERIWINKLE FAMILY.  [Vinea. 
with great rapidity by its rooting stems, it has established itself much — 
further north, and in many parts of England, where, however, it seldom, if — 
ever, ripens its seed. #7. spring. 4 
2, 'V. minor, Linn, (fig. 671). Lesser Periwinkle.—Differs from the 
last in its smaller size, more trailing habit, with short, erect flowering 
stems; in its narrower, ovate or oblong leaves, which are perfectly glabrous ; 
in its smaller flower, with a more open tube to the corolla, and shorter 
and broader segments to the calyx, without any hairs. 
Its geographical range is more extended than that of V. major, being 
undoubtedly wild much further northwards, and more abundant in England, 
but yet, like that species, it is probably with us an introduced, not a truly 
indigenous plant. FU. spring and summer. 
L. GENTIANACEA, THE GENTIAN FAMILY. 
Herbs more or less bitter, usually glabrous, with the exception 
of a few éxotic species ; the leaves usually opposite and entire, 
without stipules; the flowers in terminal, dichotomous cymes 
or panicles, with a single flower in each fork. Calyx of 4, 5, 
or rarely 6 to 8 divisions. Corolla regular, with a straight or 
‘ open tube, sometimes very short, and a spreading limb of as 
many divisions as the calyx, usually twisted in the bud. Sta- 
mens as many as the divisions of the corolla, and alternating 
with them. Ovary of a single cell, or partially divided into 2. 
Capsule opening in 2 valves, with many seeds. 
A rather large and very natural Order, extending nearly all over the 
world, but chiefly in temperate or mountain regions, some species ascend. 
ing to the utmost limits of vegetation. 
Leaves opposite. Terrestrial plants. 
Stamens and divisions of the corolla 4. 
Flowers very small, yellow . ° ‘ 5 « «oh Creme 
Flowers rather large, blue Gentiana campestris. 
Stamens and divisions of the corolla 5 (sometimes with 5 
additional smaller lobes). 
Flowers pink or red. Calyx divided to the base. Style 
deciduous . = : . : ; “ c . 2, ERYTHRAA. 
Flowers blue. Calyx not divided below the middle. 
Style remaining long after the flowering is over . 3. GENTIANA. 
Stamens and divisions of the corolla pees 8. sire 
yellow, rotate . : : : - 4, CHLORA. 
Leaves alternate. Water ‘plants. 
Leaves entire, orbicular. Flowers yellow . 6, LIMNANTHEMUM. 
Leaves with 3 leaflets, Flowers white, fringed within . 5. MENYANTHES. 
I. CICENDIA. CICENDIA. 
Very small annuals, differing from Glentiana in their deciduous style, and 
from Erythrea in the short, broad tube of the corolla, with the parts of the 
flowers in fours instead of fives. The few species are all European, and 
some botanists limit the genus to the single C. pusilla, regarding the C. 
filiformis as generally distinct under the name of Microcala. 
Stems simple or with few erect branches. Cale broad 
and short . - »« » I, C. filiformis. 
Stems much branched. Calyx-seements linear . ' : . 2. OC. pusilla. 
