Gerardia
(named in honour of John Gerard, 1545-1607, author of the famous "Herbal," 1597, and a great cultivator of exotic plants). SYN. Virgularia. ORD. Scrophularineoe. A genus containing about thirty species of annual or perennial, erect, branching herbs, natives of North and South America. Corolla rose-purple or yellow, the former colour rarely varying to white. Leaves usually opposite, the uppermost reduced to bracts of the racemose or paniculate showy flowers. Considerable difficulty is experienced in the cultivation of this genus (owing to its being more or less root-parasitic); hence, it is but rarely represented in English gardens. Imported seeds frequently germinate, and the plants thrive in rich, friable soil, in a warm, sheltered situation.
G. pedicularia (Louse-wort). fl. citron-yellow, varying to deep yellow, sometimes assuming a reddish tint. l. pinnatifid, cut toothed. h. 2ft. to 3ft. United States. Perennial. A smaller, but more branching species than G. quercifolia, having smaller and less numerous flowers, about 1in. long. (G. C. 1872, p. 43.) G. purpurea (purple). fl. purple; corolla 1in. or less long; pedicels shorter than the calyx, mainly opposite, July. l. usually spreading, narrowly linear, either somewhat scabrous or smooth, with merely scabrous margins. Branches virgate, rather spreading. h. 1ft. to 2ft. United States, 1772. Annual. A marked variety of this variable species, G. p. paupercula, is figured in B. M. 2048, under the name of G. purpurea.
G. quercifolia (Oak-leaved). fl., corolla yellow, nearly 2in. long, tubularly campanulate; calyx large, a little inflated. July and August. l., lower ones large, bipinnatifid; upper ones oblong-lanceolate, pinnatifid or quite entire. h. 3ft. to 6ft. United States, 1812. Perennial.