Calyx deeply 4-parted. Corolla deeply 4-parted, wheel-shaped, each division with a glandular and fringed pit on the face. Filaments awl-shaped, usually somewhat monadelphous at base; anthers oblong, versatile. Style persistent; stigma 2-lobed. Capsule oval, flattened, 4–14-seeded. Seeds large and flat, wing-margined.—Tall and showy herbs, with a thick root, upright and mostly simple stems, bearing whorled leaves, and numerous peduncled flowers in open cymes, disposed in an ample elongated panicle. (Dedicated to John Fraser, an indefatigable collector in this country toward the close of the last century.)
1. F. Carolinénsis, Walt. Smooth biennial or triennial (3–8° high); leaves mostly in fours, lance-oblong, the lowest spatulate, veiny; panicle pyramidal, loosely flowered; corolla (1´ broad) light greenish-yellow, marked with small brown-purple dots, its divisions oblong, mucronate, longer than the narrowly lanceolate calyx-lobes, each with a large round gland below the middle; capsule much flattened parallel with the flat valves.—Rich dry soil, western N. Y. to Wisc., south to Ga.
6. HALÈNIA, Borkh. Spurred Gentian.
Calyx 4–5-parted. Corolla short bell-shaped, 4–5-cleft, without folds or fringe, prolonged at the base underneath the erect lobes into spurs, which are glandular in the bottom. Stigmas 2, sessile, persistent on the oblong flattish capsule. Seeds rather numerous, oblong.—Small and upright herbs, with yellowish or purplish panicled-cymose flowers. (Named for John Halen, a German botanist.)
1. H. defléxa, Grisebach. Leafy annual or biennial (9–18´ high), simple or branched above; leaves 3–5-nerved, the lowest oblong-spatulate and petioled, the others oblong-lanceolate, acute; spurs cylindrical, obtuse, curved, descending, half the length of the acutely 4-lobed corolla.—Damp and cool woods, from N. Maine and W. Mass. to L. Superior, Minn., and northward.
7. BARTÒNIA, Muhl.
Calyx 4-parted. Corolla deeply 4-cleft, destitute of glands, fringes, or folds. Stamens short. Capsule oblong, flattened, pointed with a large persistent at length 2-lobed stigma. Seeds minute, innumerable, covering the whole inner surface of the pod.—Small annuals or biennials (3–10´ high), with thread-like stems, and little awl-shaped scales in place of leaves. Flowers small, white, peduncled. (Dedicated to Prof. Benjamin Smith Barton, of Philadelphia.)
1. B. tenélla, Muhl. Stems branched above, the branches or peduncles mostly opposite, 1–3-flowered; lobes of the corolla oblong, acutish, rather longer than the calyx, or sometimes twice as long; anthers roundish; ovary 4-angled, the cell somewhat cruciform.—Open woods, Newf. to Wisc., south to Va. and La. Aug.—Scales and branches occasionally alternate.
2. B. vérna, Muhl. Stem 1–few-flowered; flowers 3–4´´ long, larger; lobes of the corolla spatulate, obtuse, spreading, thrice the length of the calyx; anthers oblong; ovary flat.—Bogs near the coast, S. Va. to Fla. and La. March.
8. OBOLÀRIA, L.