THE LADIES’ FLOWER-GARDEN 
CHAPTER XXXIL 
GENTIANACE^. 
Character of the Order. — Calyx four — five-cleft, permanent. 
Corolla monopetalous, hypogynous, regular, marcescent or deciduous, 
with an equally-parted limb ; lobes equal in number to the calycine 
segments, but usually five, sometimes from four — eight, imbricate in 
aestivation. Stamens epipetalous, equal in number to the segments of 
the corolla, and alternating with them, but some of them are abortive. 
Ovarium solitary, one — two-celled, many-seeded. Styles one or two : 
when two, they are partly combined or altogether so ; stigmas one — i 
two. Capsule (sometimes a berry) many-seeded, one — two-celled, usually i| 
two-v.alved ; having the margins of the valves bent in, and bearing the ; 
seeds in those in which the capsule is one-celled ; but the seeds are ! 
inserted in central placentas in those with tvvo-celled capsules. Seeds [ 
small. Embryo str.aiglit, enclosed in the axis of soft fleshy albumen. [ 
Radicle tending towards the umbilicus. (G. Don.) 
I)f.scription, &c. — Most of the plants belonging to this order are hardy perennials. The leaves are 
opposite, entire, and without stipules. The flowers are generally very pretty, and produced in umbels. Their 
colour is generally blue, which in some of the species becomes of an extraordinary intensity. They are all natives 
of temperate climates, and are generally found in the coolest and most mountainous parts of Europe, Asia, and | 
America. Their medicinal properties are tonic, and they are generally intensely bitter. The meaning of the 
word Gentianella, is a Little Gentian ; but it is very badly applied, as the plants belonging to this genus are 
generally larger than those belonging to Gentiana. 
GENUS I. 
GENTIANELLA, Borkh. THE GENTIANELLA. 
Lin. Syst. TETRANDRIA DIGYNIA. 
Generic Character. — Calyx four-cleft. Corolla four-cleft, salver-shaped; furnished with four nectariferous pores at the base. Segments 
fringed. Seeds small, scobiform. 
Description, &c. — All the species are perennial plants ; they are all quite hardy, and very ornamental 
1.— GENTIANELLA BARBATA, Frwl. THE BEARDED GENTIANELLA. j 
Synonymes. — G. ciliata, Borkh. ; Gentiana ciliata, Lin. ; Hip. I Specific Character. — Stem flexible, angular. Leaves lanceolate, j 
pion ciliatum, Schmid. or linear. Corolla four-cleft. Segments serrated, and bearded towards [ 
Engravings. — Bot. Mag. t. 639 ; and our fig. 2 iu Plate 70. 1 the mouth of the tube. 
Description, &c. — This species is a native of Siberia, and is quite hardy. It is generally said to he a 
biennial, but it will last an indefinite number of years, as, though the plant dies down to the ground every winter, 
it sends up a number of young plants in the spring, often at a considerable distance from the parent. It was 
introduced in 1759. It is called Gentiana ciliata in our Plate, as it is most generally known by that name. 
2.— GENTIANELLA FIMBRIATA, Borkh. THE FRINGE-FLOWERED GENTIANELLA. 
Synonymes. — Gentiana fimbriata, Willd. ; G. ciliata, Bieb. 
Engravings.— Bot. Mag. t. 2031 ; and our fig. 3, in Plate 71. 
Specific Character. — Stem round, branches elongated, one-flowered; 
naked under the flower. Leaves lanceolate, acute. Corolla four- 
cleft, deeply fringed round each segment. Calyx tetragonal, erect. 
Alternate segments marginated. 
Description, &c. — There appears a good deal of confusion in this genus, but the present species is quite 
distinct from G. crinita, with which it is frequently confounded. It is said to be a native of Mount Caucasus, and 
to have been introduced in 1818 It should be grown in peat, and it may be increased by seeds, which it ripens 
freely ; but which should be sown as soon as they are ripe, as, if they are kept till spring, they seldom vegetate. 
