Gentiana
(Gentiane, a name used by Dioscorides, so called in honour of Gentius, a King of Illyricum, who imprisoned the Roman Ambassadors at the request of Perseus, King of Macedonia; he is said to have been the first who experienced the virtues of Gentian). Gentian. SYN. Selatium. Including Pneumonanthe. ORD. Gentianeae. A large genus (about 180 species) of hardy, annual or perennial herbs, dispersed throughout temperate and alpine (rare in Arctic) regions. Flowers blue, violet, purple, yellow, or white, axillary and terminal, sessile or rarely pedunculate, erect. Leaves opposite, often sessile. Gentians are among the most beautiful of hardy plants, and some have flowers of a deeper and more intense blue colour than can be found in almost any other genus. Unfortunately, they are, in many localities, most difficult to establish; and some species, G. verna for instance, can rarely be induced, under artificial conditions, to increase and blossom as it does in a natural state. All Gentians are extremely sensitive of root disturbance, caused by their being divided or transplanted; consequently, any that are established should be allowed to remain, unless their removal is an absolute necessity. Propagation is effected by seeds, which ripen in this country; and, in one or two instances, by division of the plants, although this is not recommended, for the reasons already given. G. acaulis withstands division, perhaps, better than any of the others, and, being rather plentiful, it is frequently used as an edging plant, more especially in Scotland, and in some of the cooler parts of England. Early in spring, just as growth commences, is the best time for division, which should be carefully performed, without undue injury being caused to the roots. Species like G. cruciata, which have their flower-stems proceeding from one rootstock, will not admit of increase by this method. Seeds are slow in vegetating, especially if they are old, or have been stored in a very dry place. When gathered from home-grown plants, they should be sown as soon as ripe; and, if this is done during the latter part of summer, germination may be expected (although it does not always take place) the following spring. If seeds are imported or purchased from nurserymen, the process may take one or two years, and then be uncertain. Well-drained pots or pans should be prepared, and filled with a compost consisting chiefly of loam and sand, made rather fine. The seeds must only be lightly covered and watered, the pans being after-words wintered in a frame from which frost is merely excluded. Raising Gentians from seed is a slow process, requiring considerable care in watering, and in potting or pricking off the young plants, so as to avoid injury to the tender roots. But little growth will be made by the majority of perennial species during the first year, and they should not be fully exposed outside, at least before the second season. It usually takes three or four years to obtain sizes large enough for flowering. Cultivation. Nearly the whole of the Gentians require plenty of moisture when making their growth, although thorough drainage is also essential. To insure this, extra attention should be given in the first place, and permanent positions selected. Some species succeed fairly well in various situations, either with or without shade. A good depth of loamy soil, having stones intermixed, and some of the latter placed round the plants, is the best preparation for them, this mixture requiring the addition of some peat for such as have thick stocks or long tap roots. An open position at the base of rockwork, or in the open border, should be chosen for the taller-growing species; and those which are very dwarf alpines, from high elevations, should be provided with a place on rock-work, specially prepared to insure sufficient moisture at the season when it is required. A cool place should be selected for the treatment of the species from the Himalayas. Any that are difficult to manage, and are not found to succeed, should be provided with a topdressing of new soil, or other extra attention, in preference to lifting them, unless the proper and requisite cultural requirements have been neglected when planting in the first place. In Scotland, G. verna is successfully cultivated in pans, being planted and left undisturbed, with the exception of an annual top-dressing. The pans, with their contents, are wintered in cold frames, and plunged, in spring, in the open ground, where the plants flower and remain for the summer. Stones are most useful round the roots of those planted out, on account of the moisture which they retain in dry weather. All the species described below are perennials.
G. acaulis (stemless).* Gentianella. fl. blue, with five yellow marks inside, very large, 2in. long; corolla campanulate; segments obtuse, mucronate. March to May. l. opposite, decussate; radical ones crowded, imbricated. Stems tetragonal, one-flowered. h. 2in. to 4in. Alps and Pyrenees. (B. M. 52.) There are several forms of this handsome species.
G. adscendens (ascendent). fl. blue; corolla campanulate, five-cleft, toothed between the segments; calyx three-toothed, opening on one side. June and July. l. lanceolate. h. 9in. Siberia, 1799. (B. M. 705.) There is a form of this species, minor (B. M. 723).
G. affinis(related).* fl. blue; corolla narrowly funnel-shaped, 1in. or less long; calyx lobes linear or subulate, unequal. Summer. l. from oblong or lanceolate to linear. Stems clustered, 4in. to 12in. high. North America. G. algida(cold).* fl. milk-coloured, marked with bluish dots and stripes; limb of a livid blue colour, terminal and lateral, pedicellate; corolla ten-cleft, campanulate, large. June and July. l. linear-lanceolate. Stems obsoletely tetragonal, or nearly terete. h. 3in. to 6in. Siberia, 1808. G. Andrewsii (Andrews's).* fl. blue, crowded, in axillary and terminal fascicles, sessile; corolla campanulately ventricose, with five obtuse entire segments, and five smaller accessory fringed ones. August. l. oblong-lanceolate. Stems terete. h. 1ft. to 2ft. North America, 1776. (B. M. 6421.) G. asclepiadea (Swallow-wort-like).* fl., terminal ones crowded, axillary ones solitary, all nearly sessile; corolla large, campanulate, three times longer than the calyx, five-cleft; segments ovate, acute. July. l. ovate-lanceolate, stem-clasping, with repand edges. Stems obsoletely tetragonal. h. 6in. to 18in. Southern and Eastern Europe, 1629. (B. M. 1078.) G. bavarica (Bavarian).* fl. deep blue; corolla funnel-shaped, ten-cleft; segments entire, or slightly serrated, the accessory ones small, horn-formed. July. l. ovate, obtuse; radical ones crowded, imbricated, longer than the cauline ones. Stems one-flowered. h. 3in. Central Europe, 1775. G. Burseri (Burser's). fl. yellow, verticillate; corolla usually five-cleft, campanulate, dotted; segments lanceolate, with a small accessory tooth between each. July. l. opposite, ovate, apiculated, sheathing at the base. h. 2ft. Pyrenees, 1820.
G. Catesbaei (Catesby's). fl. pale blue, terminal, fasciculate; corolla ten-cleft, campanulate, somewhat ventricose or barrel-shaped; the five regular segments acutish, the five accessory ones jagged. August. l. short, elliptic-ovate, acute, with seabrous edges. Stem terete, minutely downy. h. 6in. to 12in. Carolina, 1803.
G. ciliata (fringed). fl. light blue; corolla four-cleft; segments serrated, finely cut in the middle. August and September. l. lanceolate and linear. Stem flexuose, angular. h. 9in. Germany, 1759. (B. M. 639.) G. crinita (hairy). fl. light blue; corolla four-cleft; segments finely cut. June and July. l. lanceolate, acute. Stem erect, rounded. h. 6in. North America, 1804. (B. M. 2031.) G. cruciata (crossed).* fl. terminal and axillary, crowded, nearly sessile; corolla tubularly campanulate, eight-cleft (regular segments acute, four accessory ones small, acutely bifid or jagged), with a pale tube, widened upwards, and a pale blue limb, dotted with green in the throat. June and July. l. broad-lanceolate, connate at the base. Stems ascending, terete. h. 6in. Europe, 1596.
G. Fortunei (Fortune's).* fl. axillary, solitary, sessile; corolla funnel-shaped, slightly ventricose; limb of five spreading cordate-ovate lobes,deep blue, and equally spotted with white. December. l. opposite, the lowest small and ovate, the rest lanceolate, glabrous, three-nerved. North China, 1853. A very handsome greenhouse species. (B. M. 4776.) G. gelida (ice-cold). fl. axillary and terminal, aggregate; corolla campanulate, with bluntish segments, the five accessory ones short and jagged. June and July. l. lanceolate. Stems ascending, tetragonal. h. 6in. Caucasus, 1807.
G. intermedia (intermediate). A synonym of G. ochroleuca. G. Kurroo (native name).* fl. erect or inclined, pedicellate; corolla tube narrowly campanulate; lobes five, broadly ovate, acute or acuminate, azure-blue, sprinkled towards the throat with white. October. l. elongate-linear or oblong-lanceolate, obtuse or acute, concave, very coriaceous, bright green. Himalaya Mountains, 1879. A very handsome plant for the rock garden. SYN. Pneumonanthe Kurroo. (B. M. 6470.) G. linearis (linear-leaved). fl. blue, one to five, in a terminal involucrate cluster; corolla 1in. or more long; calyx lobes shorter than the tube. Summer. l. linear or narrowly lanceolate. Stem slender, 1ft. to 2ft. high. North America. SYN. G. Pseudopneumonanthe.
G. lutea (yellow).* fl. verticillate, sub-cymose; corolla yellow, veiny, and spotted, rotate, five or six-cleft. July. l. broad, ovate; radical leaves ovate-oblong; cauline ones sessile, ovate, acute. h. 4ft. to 6ft. Europe, 1596. This species furnishes the Gentian root of commerce. G. macrophylla (large-leaved). fl. terminal, verticillately aggregate, involucrated by usually four floral leaves; corolla pale blue, small, tubularly campanulate, four or five-cleft, with short acutish segments. July. l., radical ones lanceolate, length of stem. Stems nearly terete, almost naked in the middle. h. 6in. to 12in. Siberia, 1796. (B. M. 1414.) G. ochroleuca (yellowish-white). fl. blue, terminal, aggregate; calyx foliaceous, unequal; corolla ventricose, five-fid. l. obovate-oblong, three-nerved. h. 6in. United States, 1820. SYN. G. intermedia. (B. M. 2303.) G. ornata (adorned).* fl. solitary and sessile at the ends of the branches; corolla tube whitish, striped with blue, sub-cylindric, a little inflated; lobes intensely blue, five, small, triangular-ovate, acute. May. l. ovate-lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, acute, acuminate or obtuse, deep green, with a pale midrib. Himalayas. (B. M. 6514.) G. pannonica (Pannonian). fl. verticillate, axillary, and terminal; corolla purple, beset with dots, campanulate, six or seven-cleft, rather membranous; tube yellowish. July. l., radical ones ovate, apiculate; cauline ones ovate, lanceolate; floral ones acuminated. Stem obsoletely tetragonal. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Alps of Europe.
G. Pneumonanthe.* Wind Flower. fl. terminal and axillary, pedunculate; corolla deep blue, having the accessory segments small and green, funnel-shaped, five-cleft. August. l. linear-spathulate, obtuse. Stems simple, tetragonal. h. 6in. to 12in. Northern hemisphere (Britain). There are white and other varieties of this species.
G. Pseudo-pneumonanthe (bastard Wind Flower). A synonym of G. linearis. G. punctata (dotted).* fl. verticillate; corolla yellow, dotted with numerous irregular purple spots, campanulate, six to eight-cleft, large. June. l. ovate, acutish; lower ones petiolate, superior ones acuminated. Stem sub-tetragonal. h. 1ft. to 2ft. European Alps, 1775. G. purpurea (purple). fl. from three to eight together, terminal, the axillary ones usually solitary; corolla purplish, marked with dots in lines inside, coriaceous campanulate; tube striated with greenish-yellow. June, July. l., radical ones ovate; cauline ones ovate-lanceolate; upper ones broad-lanceolate, combined and sheathing at the base. Stem obsoletely tetragonal. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Europe, 1768.
G. pyrenaica (Pyrenean).* ft. terminating the branches, solitary; corolla pale green outside, with the limb deep blue above, funnelshaped, ten-cleft; the accessory segments oblong, obtuse, and crenulated at the apex. April. l. lanceolate-linear; radical ones crowded, imbricate; cauline connately sheathing, acute. Stem procumbent, branched at bottom. h. 3in. Pyrenees, 1825. (B. M. 5742.) G. quinqueflora (five-flowered). fl. lilac, clustered at ends of stem and branches, three to five together; corolla clavate, five-fid; calyx very short, acute. October. l. amplexicaul, deltoid-cordate, three to five-nerved. h. 1 1/2ft. North America, 1834 (B. M. 3496.) G. septemfida (seven-fid).* fl. terminal, one to seven in a cluster; corolla azure-blue, having the tube almost cylindrical, widening upwards, ten-cleft; five accessory segments jagged. June, July. l. ovate-lanceolate, obtuse, approximate. Stems tetragonal, erect, simple. h. 6in. to 18in. Persia, 1804. (B. M. 1229.) G. s. cordifolia (heart-shape-leaved). fl. numerous, in a compact rather elongate head, sessile, or very shortly pedicellate; corolla dark blue, clavate; lobes five, small, ovate, sub-acute. June, July. l. all ovate-cordate, sub-acute, five-nerved, dark green above, spreading or deflexed, coriaceous, the upper often forming a sort of involucre. Asia Minor. This plant is often cultivated under the name of G. gelida. (B. M. 6497.) G. verna (green).* fl. solitary; corolla azure-blue, salver-shaped, five-cleft, with as many small bifid accessory segments. April, May. l. ovate, acutish; radical ones spreading, crowded. Stem branched at bottom. h. 3in. England. (B. M. 491.) There are several varieties of this species, including brachyphylla (leaves lanceolate, roundish, very short) and elongata (stem elongated, filiform, nearly naked).