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and m th simple or branched, erect or decumbent stems, with opposite, entire, exstipulate leaves and corymbose inflorescence.
Calyx four- to five-lobed or -partite. CorolU funnel- or salver-shaped, with a spreading or erect four-
to five-lobed limb. Stamens five, inserted on the corolla. Ovary one-eeUed, with marginal placentæ and very
numerous ovules. Stigma two-lohed. Capsule two-valved. Seeds not winged.—A large genns of very beantifnl
plants, which abound on tropical monntains, 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,
in Tasmama, and in the Middle Island ot New Zealand, Lord Auckland’s Group, and Campbell’s Islaud. The
species are very variable in stature and branching, aud 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 ot the corolla and
size and form of the calyx-lobes. I can offer no constant characters by which to separate many states of the following
species. (Named in honour of Gentius, King of Illyria, who, according to Pliny, introduced the use of the
root into medicine.)
1. Gentiana montana, F o rst. ; annua, caule simplici 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 tan tum eUipticis ovatisve, peduncuUs gracilibus, lobis calycinis lineari-subu-
latis liuearibusve obtusis, coroUa 5-fida campanulato-infundibuliformi lobis obovatis oblongis subacutis v.
obtusis. Forsf. Prodr. B r . Prodr. A . Cunn. Pro d r. A . R ich . Plora. G. Grisebachii, Nobis in Hook.
Ic . P la n t, t. 636.
H a e . Mountains of th e NortUem and Middle Islan d s. Common iu Dusky Bay, Forster. Tongariro
aud Nelson, BidwiU. Euahine range, etc., Colenso.
A remarkably beautiful plant, usually 6 -8 inches high, but sometimes a foot aud more, especially in Tasmania,
where it is veiy 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 and CampbeU’s Island it is generally dwarf, and very abundant, the
G. condnna (Fl. Antarct. t. 36) being probably a state of it. S tem simple, erect,'or very numerous and branching
from the very' root, then decumbent and ascending, always slender in my New Zealaud specimens. Radical
leaves petiolate. linear-oblong or spathulate, cauline of the same form, or some or aU ovate or elliptical, sessile.
Mowers on long erect pedicels, whitish or pale yeUow, streaked with red or blue. Calyx teeth narrow, subulate, or
linear and blunt, dbrolfe f - | inch loug, deeply five-lobed ; lobes sharp or blunt.
2. Gentiana saxosa, F o rst. ; erecta v. decumbens, radice perenni nni-multicipite, cauHbns simpHcibus
erectis elatis v. e radice perplurimis basi p rostratis foHosis apicibus erectis uni-multifloris n u n c umbellatim
ramosis, foliis radicaUbus plurimis obovato-spathulatis obtusis coriaceis caulinis consimilibus v. supremis
ovatis sessibbus, floribus soHtariis v. ad apices ramorum paucis, lobis calycinis liueari-oblongis obtusis subrecurvis,
corollæ profunde 5-lobæ lobis late obovatis apicibus rotunda tis. Forst. Prodr. A . Cunn. Prodr.
Gruehack in DC. Prodr. v. 9. p . 89.
Var. a. robusta ; .ta à ioe vaHda polycephala, ramis brevibus congestis, foliis brevibus perplurimis rosu-
latis late obovato-spathulatis.
T a r. /3. graeilior ; radice graciH ramos perplurimos gracHes decumbentes emittente, pedunculis gracilibus,
calycis lobis angustioribus. Ad G. montanam accedit.
Var. y . pleurogynoides ; caule simplici v. basi ramoso erecto robusto, foHis cauHnis rosulatis, floribus
umbellatis longe v. breve pediceUatis, folHs late ovatis sessilibus involucratis. G. pleurogynoides, Griselach
iu BC . Prodr. v. 6. p . 99.
H a b . Mountains of th e N o rth e rn Islan d , rare ; more frequent in th e 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. LyaU, varying in size from 3 inches to 3 feet high, and am satisfied that all
are referable to one species, which is far too nearly allied to (?. montana. I t is to be distinguished from the last-
named plant by veiy frequently, if not constantly, having a perennial root ; by its robust habit, larger flowers, and
broader leaves and calycine and corolla lobes. Sometimes it is wholly prostrate, with a very much divided root,
that gives oft’ nmnerous decumbent branches, 3-4’ inches long, sparingly leafy, m th 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 star, and simple bracteate scapes, with a large solitary flower on each. Of this state there is a specimen
from Forster himself in Herb. Hook., labeUed 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 a t the base, and beai’s 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 Tasmaman
state, found chiefly on the mountains, and has been called G. pleurogynoides by I\Ir. Grisebach in his monograph of
the Order Gentianeoe. AU intermediate states between these are too common to admit of a doubt of their being but
one species, and both the erect and decumbent states of any, when slender, are hardly distinguishable from G. montana.
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 vai-ious forms into varieties with tangible characters,
or to distinguish it from G, montana.
Gen. I I . SEBÆ A , Soland.
Ciz/yoi 4 - 5 -p artitu s ; lobis carinatis v. alatis. CoroUa marcescens. Stamina
lo n g itu d in a liter dehiscentes, defl.orat8e subtortse, apice calloso recurvo. Stigmata 2. Capsula valvee margiue
inflexas. Semina plurima axi 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, with a flower placed at each fork. Leaves 4 inch long, sessile, very
broadly ovate, blunt. Flowers few, clustered at the tops of the brauches, 4 inch 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.)
I . Sebsea ovata, Br. ; caule simpbci superne ramoso gracili 4-gono, foliis parvis la te ovatis obtusis,
calycis lobis carinatis, floribus 5-fidis. B r . Prodi'. S. gracilis, A. Cunn. Prodr. Exacum ovatum, Lab.
FL Nov. H o ll. V. I . p . 38. t. 52.
H a b . N o rth e rn and Middle Islands. Bogs a t Hokianga , R . Cunningham. Grassy places, Ahuriri,
Colenso. P o rt Cooper, L ya ll.
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 than in the generality of Tasmaman specimeus, and the nerves are never strongly marked.