Seed-vessel. Capsule oblong, cylindrical, tapering, slightly cleft at the end, one-celled, and two valves.
Seeds numerous and small. Receptacles two, joined to each valve longitudinally.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Gentiana corollis campanulatis, 6-7 fidis, atropurpureis, punctatis, verticillatis; calycibus membranaceis, sub-spathaceis, truncatis.
Gentian with bell-shaped blossoms, 6-7 cleft, deep purple, dotted and whorled; empalement skinny, almost sheathed, and appearing cut off at the ends.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Empalement.
2. A Blossom, complete.
3. The same cut open, to shew the situation of the Chives.
4. Half the Seed-bud split longitudinally, to shew its interior structure.
5. A Seed-vessel, nearly ripe.
As a native of the Helvetian Alps, the Purple flowered Gentian is consequently, a hardy plant with us, requiring only to be planted in a light soil; may be increased from the seeds, which are produced in abundance, or by parting the root in autumn. The seeds are perfected, within a fortnight after the flower is decayed; and should be sown on light sandy peat, covering them very slightly, as soon as possible after they have been dried.
There appears a strange variety of opinions amongst Botanists concerning this, and two other species of Gentian, the Punctata and the Pannonica; which, as many have observed, although denied by others, are only varieties of each other; surely, a slight variation in height, the shape of the divisions of the border, or what is of less consequence, (as they vary, in that regard so much, on the same plant) their number; are not of sufficient weight to form a specific distinction.
This plant is said, in the Hort. Kew. to have been introduced in the year 1768 by Professor de Saussure: from what cause, we cannot judge, if it is so old an inhabitant, why it should not be more plentiful with us; as at present few collections possess it, and it is sold at a very high price. Our drawing was made at the Nursery, Hammersmith.[Pg 475]