OCR Text |
Show The Hiflory of P L A N T S. M I.T R E 0 LA. T HE calyx is a very [mall, permanent perianthium, formed of one leaf, and divided into five fegments: the corolla confifts of a fingle,_ campanulated petal, divided at the extremity into five erect, acute fegments: the fiamma are five extreamly fhort filaments, placed in the tube of the corolla; the anthera~ are limple. T he germen is divided into two parts, and oval : the fiyles are two; they are erect, and of the length of the fiamina; the ftigmata are obtufe: the fruit is an erect, fimple capfule, divided into two parts, containing two cells, and of an ovate~, acute figure, and fplits between the lobes: the feeds are numerous, fmall, and r:oundtlh. It is an American, defcribed by Houfton under the name of Mttra. HE U C HER A. T HE calyx is a narrow, rounded perianthium, compofed of a lingle leaf, divided at the edge into five obtufe fegments : the corolla confifis of five petals, inferted into the edge of the cup ; they are of the length of the cup, and of an ovato-linear figure: t~e fiamina are five erect, fubulated filaments, of twice the length of the cup; the anthera~ are roundilh : the germen is roundilh and femi-bifid : the ftyles are two, ftrait, and of the length of the ftamina ; the ftigmata are obtufe. The fruit is an ova to-acuminated capfule, femi- bifid, terminating in two reflex points, and contain· ing two cells : the fe~ds are numerous and [mall. - Heuchera foliis palmatis finuatis. The Heuchera, with palmated and finuated leaves. . The root is oblong, whitilh within, brown on the furface, and furnilhed with many fibres; the radical leaves are affixed to long pedicles ; they are very large, palmated, finuated, and indented round the edges; of a bright green on the upper fide, but paler underneath. The ftalk grows but to five or fix inches high : it has fometimes no leaves, fometimes one or two, like the radical ones, but much fmaller ; from the middle to the top of the fialk ftand the flowers ; they are of a dufky blackilh purple, with an admixture of greenilh, and appear hairy. They il:and on long pedicles, and form a kind of lax fpike. It is a native .of A~erica, an~ of fame parts ?f Europe; it grows in damp places. Boerhaave .calls 1t, M1tella Amencana flare fqualhde purpureo villofo ; Plukenet, Cor-: tufa Arnencana flare purpureo. GENTIAN A. T H E calyx is a perianthium, formed of a lingle leaf, divided into five oblong, . acute, perm.anent fegments: the corolla confiil:s of a fingle petal, tubulated, and rmperforated at the bafe, and at the edge divided into five fegments various in figure. The ftamina are five fubulated filaments, lhorter than the coroll;. the anther;e are fimple : the germen _is oblong, cylindric, and of the length of the fi~mina; there are n? fi yles, but the ~1gmata. are two, and oval. The fruit is an oblong, cylindric, acummated capfule, fltghtly brfid at the top, formed of two valves, and containing only one cell : the feeds are numerous and fmall ; the receptacles are two, and grow to the two valves of the capfule. This genus comprehends the Gentiana and Centaurium minus of authors. The figure of the fruit is confia~t,; the flower varie~ greatly in the feveral fpecies, both in the number, and fig~re of Its parts. One fpecres excludes a fi fth , another adds three fi~ths to the par~s; m fame t~e .neck of the corolla is open, in others it is clofed up wah filaments ; ~n fame the lacmtce are cilia~ed, in ot_hers the limb is only plicated, in others ftellated; m fame campanulated, and m others mfundibuliform : when it is il:ellated, there are often little fegments placed between the others. 1. Gentiana The Hijlory of P L A N T S. 1 , Gentiana jloribus lateralibus confertis, pedunculatis, corollis . rotatis. Ci5ttttian. The Gentiana, with lateral, clujlered, pedunculated, and ro-tated flowers. This is the fpecies of Gentian, the root of which is ufed in medicine. The root is of a yellowi£h brown, long, thick, and divided into feveral parts toward the bottom : the radical leaves il:and in clufters; they are fix or eight inches long, and more than half their length in breadth, of a pale green, very rigid and nervous, the nerves running longitudinally, broadefl: in the middle, and pointed at the end. The il:alk is fmooth and thick ; it grows to two or three feet high : the leaves fi:and in pairs at the joints; they are like the radical ones, but fmaller, fmooth, gloify, and have each either three or five ribs running longitudinally. T he flowers il:and in clufrers, verticillately as it were, furrounding the il:alks ; they are moderately large, and of a pale yellow. The plant is a native of Germany and Sweden. C. Bauhine calls it, Gentiana major lutea; J. Bauhine, Gentiana major hellebori albi folio. It's riot is an excellent flomachic in tincture or infufion. 2. Gentiana fqliis linearibus, jloribus terminatricibus raris, . corollis ereElis plicatis. <!alatbtan The linear-leaved Gentian, with terminatory, plicated .flowers. ~toltt. The root is oblong, £lender, yellow, and bitter : the fialk is round, flender, and grows to fifteen inches, or more, in height : the leaves are often two inches long, very narrow, and placed in pairs on the il:alks; they are of a pale green, and have each three longitudinal ribs. The flowers ftand at the top of the fi:alk, and of the branches, when there are any; they are very large, often an inch, or more, in length, and of a beautiful blue colour. The plant is a native of England, but not common. I found it, two years lince, in a marlh near Rochefter. C. Bauhine calls · it, Gentiana paluil:ris anguftifolia; c:_>thers~ Pneumonanthe. ' 3· Gentiana corollis hypocrateri-Jormibus, fauce bar-batis. ~ut u1nnal llllUttf The Gentiana, with hypocrateri-form flowers, bar- <15tnttan. bated at the mouth. · The root is oblong, flender, and yellowilh; the radi~alleaves are an inch long, and more than half an inch broad ; they fiand thirty or forty together in a circular manner : the fialk is firm, fmooth, and a foot high: the leaves fiand two at a joint : they have no pedicleS', and are like the radical ones, but lhorter, and have each three longitudinal ribs; they terminate in a point. The flowers ftand on the top of the fialk, and on fhort branches growing from the alee of all the leaves; they are moderately ,large, and of a beautiful blue colour. It is common in dry, hilly places. C. Bauhine calls it, Gentiana autumnalis ramofa; Rudbeck, Gentianella ; Ray, Gentianella autumnalis elatior foliis centaurii minoris. 4· Gentiana foliis lineari-lanceolatis, caule dichotomQ, corollis inf undibuliformibus quinqui.fidis. ~J;ttall <lttn~ The lineari-lanceolate-leaved Gentian, with dichotomous tautp. Jlalks, and funnelfhaped flo ·wers. The' root is long, £lender, oblique, and woody; the radical leaves are an inch long., and not half an inch broad ; the ftalk rifes fingle, but ufually divaricates afterwa~ds into two, and thefe often into two again. The height of the plant is about ten mcbes : the leaves fiand in p::J.irs, and are like. tho(e of the root, but narrower : the flow- 4 M ers |