234 



composed of quite low-growing plants. Macrocarp^ea differs in having- 

 a two lipped stigma. The only other yellow flowered member of this 

 order occurs in Voyria, a very peculiar genus, without any green 

 colouring, and only minute scale-like leaves ; the plants live on 

 decaying leaves and do not elaborate their food themselves from air 

 and soil. Another species of Voyria has a red flower. 



The species of Schultesia have red or purplish flowers with a square 

 stem and 4-winged calyx. Erythr^ea has red flowers with spirally- 

 twisted authers. Eustoma has blue or white-variegated flowers ; it 

 grows on dry banks on the sea-shore. Limnanthemum is aquatic. 



Nearly all the plants of this order contain a bitter principle, which 

 possesses tonic properties. 



Eustoma, the " Gentian Centaury" is a tonic and febrifuge. A. tea 

 can be made of three drams of the whole plant in a pint of water, and 

 may be used instead of quinine. Descourtilz recommends its use in 

 Yellow Fever. He says : — " L'inf usion vineuse se prepare en mettant 

 digerer a froid quatre gros de la tige dans deux pintes de vin de 

 Bordeaux blanc. J'ai obtenu de tres grands succes d'une cuilleree de ce 

 vin, edulcorc avec le sirop d'ether, dans les syncopes qui accompagnent 

 la fievre jaune." 



Schultesia is said by Descourtilz to be stomachic, febrifuge, emmena- 

 gogue, anthelmintic and alexipharmic. He recommends its use in 

 intermittent fevers, but particularly in chronic diarrhoea. 



Linnanthemum, the Pond Flower, is not only a tonic and febrifuge, 

 but is also anti-scorbutic. 



The following are the general characters of the order : — 



GENTIANEAE. 



Flowers regular. 



Sepals, generally 5 or 4, distinct, inferior. 

 Petals 5 or 4 connate, hypagynous. 



Stamens as many as petals, alternate with them, inserted on corolla-tube. 

 Carpels 2, connate into a 1-celled or more or less completely 2-celled superior 

 ovary ; placentas parietal ; ovules many, horizontal. 

 Capsule opening along the margins of the carpels. 

 Seeds small albuminous. 



Herbs, shrubs or small trees, with bitter juice. 



Leaves opposite (but one only in Limnanthemum), entire, without stipules. 



To put it rather more briefly : amongst Gamopetalse with superior ovary of 

 two carpels, Gentianese may be distinguished as having a regular corolla, stameus 

 as many as the corolla-lobes and alternate with them, ovary one-celled, juice 

 bitter. 



The characters of the genera and species may be shortly indicated as follows:— 



Leianthtts. 



Calyx 5 cleft. Corolla, narrowly funnel-shaped, 5-lobei, yellow, parsistent 

 Ovary with the placentas sometimes so far intruding as to make it appear to ba 

 2-celled. Stigma one, round. Herbs, shrubs or small trees. 



* Inflorescence a long-stalked umbel, surrounded by small leaves. 



1. L. umbzllatus, Griseb. A shrub or small tree. 

 ** Inflorescence paniculate. 



2. L. exsertus, Griseb. Stamens 2 or 3 times as long as corolla. 6 to 12 feat 

 high. 



3. L. latifolius, Griseb. Stamens not longer than corolla. Leaves 3 to 6 in- 

 ches lone;, with long petioles. 4 to 6 feet high. 



4. L. longifolius, Griseb. Stamens not longer than corolla. Leaves 1 to 3 in- 

 ches long, with very short petioles. 1 to 3 feet high. ^ 



