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Plate 43] SWEBTIA 47
Fig. 3. Swertia purpurascens, Wall. Purple Swertia.
Collett, fig. 102.
Stems i-3 ft. high. Leaves oblong or lance-shaped, li by
\ in., base narrowed, lowest almost blunt, upper sharp-pointed,
hairless. Panicles many-flowered, leafy, flower-stalks often
clustered. Sepals \ in. long, oblong,
1 -nerved. Corolla-lobes
5, T in. long, egg-shaped, sharp-pointed, purple or dark red*,
bent back in flower, one horse- shoe-shaped pit at the base of
each lobe. Filaments of stamens broadened downwards and
united into a short erect tube, anthers elliptic-lance-shaped,
long-pointed. Capsule stalkless ;
seeds 5-% in. diameter, globose,
smooth, light yellow when ripe.
Flowers. September.
Locality. Gagangir.
Distribution. Temperate N.W. Himalaya, from Kashmir to
Kumaon, 5,000-12,000 ft.
Pig. 4.
Swertia cordata, Wall.
(Cordata means heart-shaped, alluding to the loaves which are
often heart-shaped.)
Stem i-3 ft.
high. Leaves l by f in., stalkless, eggshaped,
sharp-pointed, 5- 3 -nerved, often heart-shaped. Panicles
large, many-flowered, branches obliquely ascending or spreading.
Flower-stalks 0-H in., often clustered. Sepals 5, i by
|- in., egg-lance-shaped. Corolla yellow-white, margins marked
with short, pale purple streaks, one round, yellowish gland
above the base of each lobe, lobes \-^ in., elliptic or oblong.
Filaments of anther linear, free. Style cylindric, stigmas
almost hemispheric. In N. Kashmir double flowers occur.
Floivers. August, September.
Locality. Gagaugir; Karakoram.
Distribution. Temperate Himalaya, 4,000-12,000 ft., from
Kashmir to Bhutan, Khasia Hills, 3^000-5,000 ft.
Swertia paniculata,
Wall.
(Pan^culata means panicled, referring to the arrangement of
flowers.)
the
Stems 1-3 ft. Branches spreading. Leaves oblong or
lance-shaped, 3-1-nerved, li by f in. Sepals 5, in. long,
oblong, sharp-pointed. Corolla white in the upper half with