p. 19. — Cow. FI. Guide, p. 30. — Mack. Catal PI. Irel. p. 24. ; FI. Hibcrn. p. 186. — 
Erythrcea vulgaris, Gray's Nat. Arr. v. ii. p. 337. — Chironia { Centaur ium. 
Curt. FI. Loud. t. 247. — Engl. Bot. t. 417. — Woody. Med. Bot. v. iii. p. 435. t. 157. — 
Sm. FI. Brit. v. i. p. 257. — With. (5th ed.) v. ii. p. 325. — Willd. Sp. PI. v. i. pt. ji. 
p. 1068. — Sibth. FI. Oxon. p. 75. — Abb. FI. Bedf. p. 47. — Thornt. Fam. Herb. p. 
146, with a figure. — Davies’ Welsh Bot. p. 23. — Relh. FI. Cant. (3rd ed.) p. 97. — 
Purt. Mid. FI. v. i. p. 134. ; and v. iii. p. 348. — Gentiana Centaurium, Linn. Sp. 
PI. p. 332. — With. (1st ed.) v. i. p. 141. — Lightf. FI. Scot. v. i. p. 152. — Centaurium 
minus, Ray’s Syn. p. 286. — Centaurium parvum, Johnson’s Gerarde, p. 547. 
Localities. — I u dry gravelly pastures, on heaths, and sometimes in woods ; not 
uucommon. 
Annual. — Flowers from July to September. 
Root small, tapering, fibrous, of a yellowish colour. Stem from 
6 to 12 inches high, upright, generally simple, angular, smooth, 
leafy, sometimes branched. Leaves opposite, sessile, smooth, 
bright green ; those from the root oblong, blunt, numerous, de- 
pressed ; the rest acute, egg-shaped, or elliptic-spear-shaped, the 
uppermost often bent inwards; all 3-ribbed, and quite entire. 
Flowers nearly sessile, upright, forming a corymbose, forked, more 
or less dense, leafy or bracteated, panicle. Bracteas opposite, awl- 
shaped. Calyx upright, slender, about half the length of the tube 
of the corolla, to the base of which it is slightly united ; segments 
tapering to a point, somewhat triangular, and connected by a mem- 
brane. Corolla salver-shaped ; its tube long, and of a pale greenish 
colour; its limb of a most exquisite and brilliant pink, sometimes 
white ; expanding only in sunshine, and closing almost as soon as 
gathered. Anthers yellow, twisted spirally in about 3 convolutions 
after shedding their pollen. Germen nearly filling the tube of the 
corolla, oblong, with a longitudinal furrow on each side. Style 
about half the length of the germen, cylindrical, cloven at the top, 
and divisible without much force all the way down. Stigmas 2, 
roundish, greenish-yellow. Capsule slender, brown, invested closely 
with the permanent dilated tube of the corolla, 1-celled, the edges 
of the valves turned inwards, but not so far as to meet. Seeds 
roundish, yellow. 
This pretty plant is a native of most parts of Europe, and is esteemed as one of 
the most efficacious hitters of all the medicinal plants indigenous to this country. 
It is often substituted for gentian, and is equally efficacious. It is said to be the 
basis of the famous Portland Powder, which prevents fits of the gout, when taken 
in a large quantity, and for a long time together ; but brings on induration of the 
liver, palsy, and apoplexy. A tincture of the leaves, and the upper part of the 
root, is a good medicine for weak stomachs and cachectic habits. A decoction of 
the whole plant destroys vermin, and cures psora. Linns; vs says, cows are not 
fond of this plant; and Dr. Stokes, that in sheep pastures it is frequently left un- 
touched. Its intense bitterness caused it to be named by the ancients Fel Terrce, 
or Gall of the Earth. 
The following couplet of Joannes Postius proves the estimation in which it 
was formerly held : 
*• F1o 3 mihi suave rubet, sed inest quoquc succus amaru6, 
Qui juvat obessum bile, aperitque jecur.” 
Which Geiiaiide thus translates : 
" My floure is sweet iu smell, bitter my juyce in taste. 
Which purge choler, and helps liver, that else would waste.” 
