O® OJL AMI A m m i CA o
OBOLARIA VIRGINICA.
Tetradynamia Monogynia, Linn. Gentianex, Juss.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
Calix 0, or in the form of two bractes. Corolla campanulate, 4-cleft, segments entire,
(the margin sometimes crenately torn.) Stamina equal, proceeding from the
clefts of the corolla. S tigma emarginate. Capsule ovate, 1-celled, 2-valved,
many-seeded, seeds minute.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Stem simple; leaves oblong-truncate, fleshy, purple underneath; flowers axillary,
solitary, sessile. Willd. a n d P u rsh .
Root white, fleshy, contorted, perennial? Stem obscurely quadrangular,
whitish, tinged with dull purple. Leaves sessile, alternate,
wedge-shaped, very broad at base, the margins decurrent, giving an
angular appearance to the stem. Two branches generally proceed
from the root, each supporting two opposite leaves, from the bosom
of which proceed three flowers, with each a pair of spathulate bracts.
