Flora Medica

GENTIANACE^E.Nat. syst. ed. 2. p. 297.** There is scarcely a plant of this natural order in whichthe bitter principle does not exist in considerable intensity.Although the following are taken as good examples, and as themost officinal species, the listmight be very much and usefullyextended.GENTIANA.Calyx 4-5-parted. Corolla variously divided, twisted to theright in aestivation, often with accessory lobes between the principalones ; without depressed glands upon the petals. Filamentsequal at the base ; anthers not changing. Stigmas terminal onthe ovary or style. Placentae united with the endocarp, andoverspreading the valves of the capsule.1088. G. Catesbaei Walter fl. carol p. 109. Elliott hot. i. 340.Biffelow med. hot. ii. t. 34. Wet grassy meadows in thesouthern parts of the North American Union.Root branching, fleshy. Stem simple, erect, rough. Leaves opposite,ovate or lanceolate, slightly 3-nerved, acute, rough on the margin.Flowers crowded, nearly sessile, axillary and terminal. Segments ofthe calyx linear-lanceolate, varying in length, exceeding the tube andsometimes more than twice its length. Corolla large, blue, ventricose,plaited; its border 10-cleft, the 5 outer segments roundish and moreor less acute, the 5 inner bifid and fimbriate. Stamens 5, with dilatedfilaments and sagittate anthers. Ovary oblong-lanceolate, compressed,supported by a sort of pedicel. Style none; stigmas 2, oblong, reflexed.Capsule oblong, acuminate, 1-celled, 2-valved. Sigelow.Dried root mucilaginous and sweetish, then intensely bitter, approachingtonearlyG. lutea. It is considered the best substitute in NorthAmerica for that species.1089. G. Amarella Linn. sp. pi 334. Eng. Bot. t. 236.Smith Eng. Fl ii. 30. High, dry chalky pastures in most partsof Europe.Root tapering, twisted, yellowish. Whole plant intensely bitter.Stem square, erect, leafy, purplish, usually from 6 to 12 inches high,with opposite, axillary, many-flowered, leafy, but rather short, branches,rendering the whole plant panicled, and nearly cylindrical. Leavesdark green, sessile, ovate, 3-ribbed, mostly acute; the lower onesstalked, and rather spathulate. Flowers erect, barely an inch long,with a whitish cylindrical tube, twice as long as the spreading, deeply5-cleft, acute, purplish-blue limb, which has no intermediate segments,but the mouth of the tube is crowned with a fine erect purplish fringe,rather shorter than the limb, and risingmuch abeve the stamens.The calyx has a turbinate, 5-angled, pale-green tube, about as long as517 LL 3