Botanical Magazine 106 - 1880.pdf - hibiscus.org

TAB. 6470.
GENTIANA KURROO.
Native of the Himalaya Mountains.
Nat. Ord. GENTIANEíE.•Tribo SWEETIES.
Genus GENTIANA, Linn. ; {Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. PI. vol. ii. p. 815.
GENTIANA (Pneumonaiithe) Kurroo ; glaberrima, radice elongate crasso apico
folioso, foliis subrosulatis auguste elongate lineari-oblongis v. lanceolatisobtusis
v. subacutis coriaceis 1-3-nerviis, ramis floriferis e eolio ascendentibus v. basi
prostratis 1-5-floris, foliis caulinis linearibus, calycis tubo infundibari-
campanulato, lobis 5 basi diseretis linearibus tubum aiquanttbus v. supcrantibus,
corolla calyce duplo longiore campanulata lobis lato ovatis acutis azureis albo
conspersis plicis inter lobos integris dentatis v. furcatis.
G. Kurroo, Boyle III. Simal. PI. 278, t. 68, f. 2 ; Griseb. in DC. Prodr. vol. ix.
p. 110.
Pneumonanthe Kurroo, Don in Phil. Mag. 1836, p. 75, et in Trans Linn. Soc.
vol. xvii. p. 510.
A frequent inhabitant of the western temperate Himalaya,
from Garwhal westward to Kashmir, at elevations of 5000 to
8000 feet, where it is one of the most ornamental of the
herbaceous perennials from the delicacy of its azure blossoms
sprinkled with pearly white, and the brilliant green of its
foliage. It is a near ally of the British G. Pneumonarithej
but a far handsomer plant. According to Dr. Royle, its
native name in Garwhal is " Kurroo," and it is used as a
medicine, no doubt from the bitter properties of the root.
I am indebted to Mr. Bull for the beautiful specimen here
represented, which he raised from seed, and flowered in
October of last year. It had not before been introduced
into cultivation, and will prove a very great acquisition to
the rock-garden.
DESCR. Boot as thick as the middle finger, and cylindrical
when old, sometimes five to six inches long, covered with
black rough bark, the crown bearing many tufts of leaves
that spread horizontally. Leaves three to five inches long,
JA.xrAuy 1ST, 1880.