GENTIA'NA CRUCIA'TA. 
CROSSWORT, OR CROSSED GENTIAN. 
Class. Order. 
PENTANDRIA. DIGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
GF.NTIANEJE. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Cultivated 
Austria. 
9 inches. 
June, July. 
Perennial. 
in 1596. 
No. 387. 
The name of this genus of beautiful plants ap- 
pears to have originated, indirectly, from the 
virtues of Gentiana lutea, which has long been 
known as a powerful tonic and febrifuge. The 
Illyrian king, Gentius, after whom it was named, 
is said to have discovered these virtues; hence we 
may conceive that kings of olden time had much 
less of the cares of state to occupy their minds than 
fall to the share of modern monarchs. The plea- 
sures of a quiet pursuit, or a peaceful science like 
botany, can rarely, in the present day, we fear, be 
indulged in by the rulers of nations. Cruciata, 
from the Latin crux, signifying cross; a name 
formed on the crossed position of its foliage. 
This low free-growing herbaceous plant, is well 
adapted for ornamenting the fronts of borders and 
mounts; but it has not the advantage of some others 
of the same genus, in affording an evergreen em- 
bellishment of bright green leaves to enliven the 
little garden landscape of winter. 
It will grow in any common soil, and seems to 
prefer a rather cool and moist situation. It may 
be divided in spring or autumn. 
Hort. Kew. 2, v. 2, 113. 
