GENTIA'NA SAPONA'RIA. 
SOAPWORT-LEAVED GENTIAN. 
Class. Order. 
PENTANDRIA. DIGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
GENTIANACE^. 
Native of 
Heig’ht. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Introduced 
N. America 
2 feet. 
Aug’. Sept. 
Perennial. 
in 1776. 
No. 591. 
The origin of the name Gentiana has been pre- 
viously given under No. 51. 
There are very few plants of the same stature, 
when grown in sufficient masses, and under success- 
ful culture, which produce a more splendid effect 
than the Gentians. 
The dazzling blue of Gentiana acaulis (No. 51) 
is never excelled. Some persons have experienced 
disappointment in the cultivation of the species of 
this genus, which, generally speaking, has arisen 
from their plants having had too much nursing, 
and in being denied shade and quietude. A few 
species will not bear the least drought ; even the 
Gentianella it will not unfrequently destroy. Gen- 
tiana verna, which is esteemed a very fastidious 
plant, we have seen propagate itself spontaneously, 
when left undisturbed in a shady situation amongst 
moss and lichens. As it is the first object of the 
medical man to ascertain the disease of his patient, 
so should it be of the gardener to ascertain the habit 
of the plant he undertakes to cultivate. 
The medicinal virtues of some species of Gentian, 
especially the Gentiana lutea, have long been held 
Hort. Kew. 2, v. 2, 109. 
