2719
ERYTHRÆA latifolia.
Broad-leaved Tufted Centaury.
P E N T A N D R IA Monogynia.
Gen. Char. Capsule of 2 incomplete cells, many-
seeded. Corolla salver-shaped. Anthers finally
spiral.
Spec. Char. Stem 3-cleft at the top. Flowers in
dense forked tufts. Calyx as long as the tube.
Segments of the corolla lanceolate. Lower leaves
broadly elliptical, with 5 or 7 ribs.—Sm.
Syn. Erythræa latifolia. Sm. Engl. FI. v. 1.321.
Hook. Brit. FI. ed. 2. 108.
Chironia Centaurium, var. 2. Sm. FI. Brit. 1393.
T h e Erythrcece, littoralis, pulchella, and latifolia, have
been by Linnaeus, or by Sir J . E. Smith in his earlier
writings, considered as varieties of the common Centaury,
E. Centaurium; and whether they are justly separated
from it in recent botanical publications, is a question
we are hardly competent to decide. The present has,
indeed, a very peculiar aspect, especially the specimen here
figured, which was sent to us by W. Wilson, Esq. of Warrington,
having a very stunted mode of growth, very
broad, distinctly ribbed leaves, and flowers so numerous
and clustered just above the root-leaves, that no stem is
visible. We possess, however, individuals from the same
excellent botanist, in which these characters are less evident,
and the species seems to be passing into the E. Centaurium.
Whether a species or variety, the merit of discovering