GENTIA'NA VER'NA. 
Variety: alba, 
WHITE SPRING GENTIAN. ' 
Class. Order. 
PENTANDRIA. DIGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
GENTIANACEiE. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Inhabits 
England. 
3 inches. 
April, May. 
Perennial. 
Mountains. 
No. 712. 
The Illyrian monarch, after whom this genus 
was named, figured prominently in the Roman 
wars, nearly two centuries before the birth of 
Christ. He seems to have been more remarkable 
for his tyranny than his talents or bravery. See 
No. 387. 
We have previously given a figure of the blue 
variety of Gentiana verna which is usually met 
with, but the one which is now before us is so com- 
pletely novel and little known, that it ought not to 
pass unnoticed. AVe are indebted for it to the 
Messrs. Pope, of Handsworth, who never neglect 
to secure similar rarities. It is probable that the 
colouring matter of the Gentiana verna, is that 
dyeing principle which is contained in indigo. 
According to the theory of modern chemists this 
principle in its pure state is white, but that it be- 
comes blue by imbibing oxygen. Hence we infer 
that the corolla of the white Gentiana verna pos- 
sesses the power of excluding the oxygen of the 
atmosphere. 
Peat soil, or peat and loam, with a shady situa- 
tion, is most desirable for this plant. 
Hort. Kew. 2, v. 2, 1 12. 
