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and with simple or branched, erect or decnmhent stems, with opposite, entire, exstipulate leaves and corymbose inflorescence.
Calyx four- to five-lobed or -partite. Corolla funnel- or salver-shaped, with a spreading or erect four-
to five-lobed limb. Stamens five, inserted on the corolla. Omry one-celled, with marginal placentæ and very
numerous ovules. Stigma two-lobed. Capmle two-valved. Seeds not winged.—A large genus of very beautiful
plants, which abound on tropical mountains, especially the Andes, and are very frequent in the north temperate
latitudes, and comparatively scarce in the south, becoming more common towards the southern extreme of Australia,
m Tasmama, and in the Middle Island of New Zealand. Lord Auckland’s Group, aud Campbell’s Island. The
speeies are veiy variable in stature and brauching, and size and form of leaf and flower, the same species being low
or tall, prostrate or erect, simple or branched, large- or small-flowered, also varying in the colour of the corolla and
size and form of the calyx-lohes. I can offer no constant characters by which to separate many states of the foUow-
mg species. (Named in honour of Gentius, King of Illyria, who. according to Pliny, introduced the use of the
root into medicine.)
1. Gentiana numtana, Forst. ; annua, caule simpUci erecto v. e basi ramosissimo, ramis gracilibus rarius
e basi decumbentibus erectis 1 -floris v. laxe corymbosis, foliis radicalibus obovato-spathulatis obtusis,
caulinis omnibus v. supremis tantum ellipticis ovatisve, pedunculis gracflibus, lobis calyciuis lineari-subu-
latis linearibusve obtusis, corolla 5-fida campanulato-infuudibuliformi lobis obovatis oblongis subacutis v.
obtusis. Forst. Prodr. Br. Prodr. A. Cunn. Prodr. A. Bich. Flora. G. Grisebachii, Noiis in Hook.
Ic. Plant, t. 636.
H a b . Mountains of tlie Northern and Middle Islands. Common in Dusky Bay, Forster. Tongariro
and Nelson, Bidwill. Knahine range, etc., ~ *
A remarkably beautiful plant, usually 6-8 inches high, but sometimes a foot aud more, especially in Tasmania,
where it is very abundant, and reaches 2 feet; it is also found in the Blue Mountains of Australia and as far south
as Bass’s Straits. In Lord Auckland’s Group aud CampbeU’s Island it is generally dwarf, and very abundant, the
G. eonemna (Fl. Antarct. t. 36) being probably a state of it. Stems simple, erect, or very numerous and branching
from the very root, then decumbent and ascending, always slender in my New Zealand specimens. Radical
leaves petiolate, linear-obloug or spathulate. cauline of the same form, or some or aU ovate or eUiptical, sessfle.
Flowers on long erect pedicels, whitish or pale yeUow, streaked with red or blue. Calyx teeth narrow, subulate, or
Hnear and blunt. CoroUa inch long, deeply five-lobed ; lobes sharp or blunt.
2. Gentiana saxosa, Porst. ; erecta v. decumbens, radice perenni nni-multicipite, caulibus simplicibus
erectis elatis v. e radice perplurimis basi prostratis foKosis apicibus erectis uni-multifloris nunc umbeUatim
ramosis, foliis radicaKbus plurimis obovato-spathulatis obtusis coriaceis caulinis consimilibus v. supremis
ovatis sessilibus, floribus solitariis v. ad apices ramorum pancis, lobis calycinis lineari-oblongis obtusis subrecurvis,
corollæ profunde 5-lobæ lobis late obovatis apicibus rotundatis. Forst. Prodr. A. Cunn. Prodr.
Grisehach in DC. Prodr. v. 9. p. 89.
Var. <z. robusta ; .vsAice valida polycepliala, ramis brevibus congestis, foliis brevibus perplurimis rosn-
latis late obovato-spathulatis.
Var. E- gradlior ; radice gracili ramos perplurimos graciles decumbentes emittente, pedunculis gracflibus,
calycis lobis angustioribus. Ad G. montanam accedit.
Var. y. pleurogynoides ; caule simplici v. basi ramoso erecto robusto, foUis caulinis rosulatis, floribus
umbeUatis longe v. breve pediceUatis, foliis late ovatis sessilibus involucratis. G. pleurogynoides, Grisebach
in DC. Pro<k. v. 9. p . 99.
H a b . Mountains of the Northern Island, rare ; more frequent in the Southern and Middle Islands,
Forster, etc.
I have examined a large series of magnificent specimens of this beautiful plant, collected in various parts of
the Southern and Middle Island by Dr. Lyall, varying in size from 2 inches to 2 feet high, and am satisfied that all
are referable to one species, which is far too nearly allied to G. montana. It is to be distinguished from the last-
named plant by very frequently, if not constantly, having a perennial root; by its robust habit, larger flowers, and
broader leaves and calycine and coroUa lobes. Sometimes it is whoUy prostrate, with a very much divided root,
that gives off numerous decumbent branches, 2-4 inches long, sparingly leafy, ivith long, petioled, narrow, spathulate
leaves, and single terminal one-flowered pedicels. This probably grows in shaded moist places. Another form
has stout short stems from the divided root, with dense masses of broad, spathulate, thick, radical leaves, spread
out like a stai', and simple bracteate scapes, with a large solitary flower on each. Of this state there is a specimen
from Forster himself in Herb. Hook., labelled G. saxosa, but differing widely from the specimens he describes from.
The third form, which I have called pleurogynoides, has generally erect, robust stems, simple or branched, with of
without spreading tufted leaves at the base, and bears umbels of three to ten beautiful large flowers, their pedicels
surrounded at the base by several sessile blunt leaves, forming a general involucre. This is a common Tasmanian
state, found chiefly on the mountains, and has been called G. pleurogynoides by Mr. Grisebach in his monograph of
the Order Geniianece. All intermediate states between these are too common to admit of a doubt of their being but
one species, aud both the erect and decumbent states of any, when slender, are hardly distinguishable from G. rnon-
tana. Mr. Bidwill, who sends beautiful specimens of this from the Warrau Pass, where it covers the ground in
masses, with flowers an inch broad, finds it impossible to sort its vailous forms into varieties with tangible characters,
or to distinguish it from G. montana.
Gen. I I . SEB-kHA, Soland.
4-5-partitns; lobis carinatis v. alatis. Corolla marcescens. Stamina Anthera
longitudinaliter dehiscentes, defioratse subtortee, apice calloso recurvo. Stigmata 2, Capsula valvae margine
infiexge. Semina plurima caxi centrali libero affixa.
S. ovata is a slender herb, also found in Tasmania, with annual root and erect four-angled stem, 2-6 inches
high, simple or dichotomously branched above, wth a flower placed at each fork. Leaves 4 inch loug, sessile, very
broadly ovate, blunt. Flowers few, clustered at the tops of the branches, 4 kch long, yellow. Calyx lobes ovato-
lanceolate, acuminate, keeled. Corolla with a straight tube, and five oblong blunt lobes, that are twisted after the
flower is closed. Stamens five, with very short filaments, placed at the mouth of the corolla. Anthers slightly
twisted after flowering. Ovary two-celled, with two straight styles and small capitate stigmas. Capsule of two
linear, concave, pointed valves, that separate from a central axis bearing numerous seeds.—This is one of a
small genus, chiefly native of the Cape of Good Hope. (Named in memory of Albert Seba, an Amsterdam apothecary
and author.)
1. Seb«a ovata, B r .; caule simplici superne ramoso gracili 4-gono, foliis parvis late ovatis obtusis,
calycis lobis carinatis, floribus 5-fidis. Br. Prodr. S. gracilis, A. Cunn. Prodr. Exacum ovatum, Lab.
FL Nov. Holl. V. 1. p. 38. t. 52.
Hab. Northern aud Middle Islands. Bogs at Hokianga, It. Cunningham. Grassy places, Ahuriri,
Colenso. Port Cooper, Lyall.
Cunningham considers his specimens of this plant to be different from Brown’s S. ovata; but after a careful
comparison with Tasmanian ones, I find no difference at all in habit, flower, capsule, or seed : the leaves are a little
smaller thau in the generality of Tasmanian specimens, and the nerves are never strongly marked.