GEN 
hath five awl-Jhaped fiamina , which are ft or ter than the 
petal , terminated by Jingle fummits. In the center is 
fituated an oblong cylindrical germen , having no fiyle , 
is crowned by two oval ftigmas. The germen af- 
terward becomes an oblong taper-pointed capful e, with one 
cell , containing many j mall feeds fafiened to the valves of 
the capjule. 
This genus of plants is ranged in the fecond fedtion of 
Linnaeus’s fifth clafs, intitle i Pentandria Digynia, 
which includes the plants whofe flowers have five fta- 
mina and two ftigmas. 
The Species are, 
i. Gentian a ( Lutea ) corollis quinquefidis rotatis ver- 
ticillatis, calycibus fpathaceis. Flail. Helv. 479. Gen- 
tian with quinquefid wheel-Jhaped petals growing in whorls , 
and hood-like empalements. Gentiana major lutea. C. 
B. P. 187. Greater yellow Gentian. 
I . Gentiana ( Pneumonathe ) corollis quinquefidis cam- 
panulatis oppofitis pedunculatis, foliis linearibus. 
Lin. Sp. Plant. 228. Gentian with bell-fhaped quinque- 
fid petals placed oppofite upon foot -jialks, and very nar- 
row leaves. Gentiana auguftifolia autumnalis major. 
C. B. P. 188. Greater narrow-leaved autumnal Gentian. 
q. Gentiana ( Afclepiades ) corollis quinquefidis cam- 
panulatis oppofitis feftilibus, foliis amplexicaulibus. 
Lin. Sp. Plant. 227. Gentian with bell-jhaped quinquefid 
petals fitting clofe to the /talk oppofite , and leaves em- 
bracing the jlalk. Gentian Afclepiades folio. C. B. P. 
187. Gentian with a Swallow-wort leaf. 
4. Gentiana ( Acaulis ) corolla quinquefida campanil- 
lata, caulem excedente. Lin. Sp. Plant. 228. Gen- 
tian with a bell-jhaped quinquefid petal exceeding the jlalk. 
Gentiana Alpina latifolia, magno flore. C. B. P. 187. 
Broad-leaved Alpine Gentian with a large flower , com- 
monly called Gentianella. 
5. Gentiana {Nivalis) corollis quinquefidis infundibu- 
liformibus, ramis unifloris alternis. Lin. Sp. Plant. 
229. Gentian with funnel-jhaped quinquefid petals, and 
alternate branches having one flower. Gentiana annua, 
foliis Centaurii minoris. Tourn. Inft. 81. Annual Gen- 
tian with lejfer Centaury leaves. 
6 . Gentiana ( Cruciata ) corollis quadrifidis imberbibus 
verticillatis feftilibus. Lin. Sp. Plant. 231. Gentian 
With quadrifid petals without beards , growing in whorls 
clofe to the jialks. Gentiana cruciata. C. B. P. 188. 
Crojfwort Gentian. 
7. Gentiana ( Cilliata ) corollis quadrifidis margine ci- 
liatis. Lin. Sp. Plant. 231. Gentian with a four-pointed 
petal , whofe border is hairy. Gentianella caerulea oris 
pilofis. C. B. P. 188. Blue Gentian with hairy brims. 
8. Gentiana ( Utriculofa ) corollis quinquefidis hypo- 
crateriformibus, calycibus plicatis alatis. Lin. Sp. 
Plant. 229. Gentian with falver-jhaped quinquefid petals, 
and winged plaited empalements. Gentiana utriculis 
ventricofis. C. B. P. 188. Gentian with a ventricofe 
tube. 
9. Gentiana ( Centaureum ) corollis quinquefidis infun- 
dibuliformibus caule dichotomo. Lin. Sp. Plant. 229. 
Gentian with a funnel-jhaped, five-pointed petal, and a 
forked Jlalk. Centaurium minus. C. B. P. 278. Lejfer 
Centaury. 
10. Gentiana ( Perfoliatum ) corollis odlifidis, foliis per- 
foliatis. Lin. Sp. Plant. 232. Gentian with an eight- 
pointed petal, and Thorough-wax leaves. Centaurium lu- 
te'um perfoliatum. C. B. P. 278. Yellow perfoliate Cen- 
taury. . 1 
II. Gentiana ( Spicata ) corollis quinquefidis floribus 
alternis feftilibus. Lin. Sp. Plant. 230. Gentian with 
funnel-jhaped five-pointed petals , flowers growing alter- 
nate, and fitting clofe to the Jialks. Centaurium minus 
ilpicatum album. C. B. P. 278. Lejfer Centaury with 
a white fpiked flower. 
12. Gentiana {Exalt at a) corollis quinquefidis co- 
ronatis crenatis, pedunculo terminali longiflfno di- 
chotomo. Lin. Sp. 331. Gentian with a five-pointed 
petal , a very long foot-jialk, and forked branches. 
Centaurium minus maritimum amplo flore casruleo. 
Plum. Cat. 3. Lejfer maritime Centaury with a large 
blue flower. 
The firft fort is the common Gentian of the [hops, 
whofe root is one of the principal ingredients in 
bitters. 
This plant has a large thick root of a yellolvilh 
brown colour, and a very bitter tafie •, the lower 
leaves are of an oblong oval fhape, a little pointed 
at the end, ftiff, of a yeliowifh green, and have five 
large veins on the back of each, and are plaited. The 
ftaik riles to the height of three or four feet, which 
is garnifhed with leaves, growing by pairs at each 
joint, almoft embracing the ftaik at their bafe 5 
thefe are of the fame form with the lower, but di- 
minfth gradually in their fize to the top. The flowers 
come out in whorls at the joints, toward the upper 
part of the ftalks, ftanding on Abort foot-ftalks, whofe 
origin is from the wings of the leaves thefe are of 
a pale yellow, and have one petal, which is divided 
almoft to the bottom, having an oblong cylindrical 
germen, which afterward fwells to an oblong taper 
capfule, which is bifid at the point, and opens in two 
cells, filled with fmall feeds. 
It grows naturally in the paftures in Switzerland, and 
in the mountainous parts of Germany, from whence 
the roots are brought to England for medicinal ufe ; 
there is a compound water, and an extradt made of 
them. The root of the Gentian is alfo one of the 
principal ingredients in bitters, and is frequently ufed 
in many diforders. 
But a few years ago, there was a mixture of Henbane 
roots brought over with Gentian, which was unhap- 
pily ufed, and occafloned great diforders in the perfons 
to whom it was adminiftered ; upon which great en- 
quiry was then made to find out what that root could 
be, lbme ftifpedring it to be the root of Deadly 
Nightfhade, and others believing it to be fome of the 
poifonous umbelliferous roots, but on comparino- it 
with fome dried roots of the Henbane, I found they 
were the fame. We have likewife an account of the 
noxious quality of thefe roots, printed in the Synopfis 
Stirpium Hibernicarum, which was communicated to 
the author by Dr. Thomas Molyneux, phyflcian to 
the, ftate p it was as follows : 
The Dean of Clonfert was making fome alterations 
in his garden, and, looking over his workmen, he ob- 
ferved them to dig up many roots, which he took for 
Skirrets, and therefore ordered fome of them to be 
carried in and drefied for dinner, which was accord- 
done ; but all thofe who eat of them were in 
a fhort time feized with dizzinefs in their head, fick- 
nefs at the ftomach, attended with an unufual heat 
and drinefs in their throats-, and two, who had eaten 
a larger fhare than the reft, loft the ufe of their rea- 
fon, and became delirious, which continued for fome 
days ; and as it appeared evident thefe diforders were 
occafioned by the roots, the Dean caufed fome of them 
to be planted, that he might be afiured what the plant 
was whofe roots had this bad quality ; and in the 
fpring, when they put out their leaves, they proved 
to be the Henbane, which has been noticed by old 
writers to be poflefted of thefe qualities. And as the 
diforders which were occaficned by thefe fuppofed 
Gentian roots, were nearly the fame^ as is above re- 
lated, I thought it might be of ufe to infert it here, 
to caution others againft eating of roots which they 
are unacquainted with* 
This plant delights in a light loamy foil and a fhady 
fituation, where it will thrive much better than in a 
light dry foil, or in an open expofure. It is propa- 
gated by feeds, which fhould be fown in pots foon 
after it is ripe, for if it is kept till the fpring, it will 
not fucceed ; thefe pots fhould be placed in a fhady 
fituation, and kept clean from weeds. In the fpring; 
the plants will appear, when they mu ft be duly wa- 
tered in dry weather, and kept clean from weeds 
till the following autumn ; then they fhould be care- 
fully fhaken out of the pots, fo as not to break or 
injure their roots and a fhady border of loamy 
earth fhould be well dug and prepared to receive 
them, into which the plants Ihould be planted at about 
fix inches diftance each way, obferving to let the 
top of the roots be a little below the furface of the 
6 B ground. 
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