THE GENTIAN FAMILY. 



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a 2-valved capsule, the margins of the valves turned inwards, 

 containing numerous seeds, rarely a berry. 



This interesting family consists of nearly 500 species, all 

 widely spread over the earth, extending to the limits of 

 vegetable life in the polar regions, and to the verge of per- 

 petual snow and glaciers in elevated regions. They are also 

 found in moist places in tropical countries. They contain a 

 bitter principle, and most of them are used as tonic medicine 

 in their different localities. 



Gentian. This genus consists of a considerable number 

 of species, many of which are favourites in gardens, such as 

 the well known Gentianella {Gentiana accmlis), a native of 

 the Alps, also said to be found wild in Wales. But the most 

 important is G. lutea, a native of Switzerland. It is a showy 

 growing species, with an erect leafy flower stem, attaining 

 the height of 2 or 3 feet. The leaves are broad and strongly 

 veined. Flowers yellow, axillary in tufts. The roots are 

 strong, about the thickness of the finger, and highly valued 

 as a tonic. Six species of the genus are natives of this 

 country, three being annuals. 



Chirata [Ophelia Gliirata and 0. elegans). Slender-branched 

 annual plants, 2 to 3 feet high, with yellow flowers, natives 

 of India, where the stems are held in high repute as a tonic 

 and febrifuge, both by native and European practitioners. 



Buck Bean [Menyanthes trifoliatd). One of our most 

 beautiful native plants, growing abundantly in marshy 

 places, and by the sides of streams. It possesses strong 

 medicinal properties, the leaves being extremely bitter. An 

 infusion of them is a favourite domestic remedy in rheuma- 

 tism, and is employed by regular practitioners in fevers. 

 They have been used as a substitute for hops ; but they give 

 bitterness without the aroma of the hop. Another equally 

 interesting native plant is Villarsia nymphoeoides^ which grows 

 in ditches and ponds. It has long stalked, floating, peltate 

 leaves, and pretty yellow flowers rising above the water. 



Several species of Lisianthus^ natives of the West Indies 

 and Tropical America, have been introduced. L. Russel- 



