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Gentiana (after Gentius, King of Illyria, who is said to have discovered the tonic value of these plants). Gentianaceae. Choice herbs, mostly blue-flowered, grown in the open, many of them in alpine gardening.

Gentiana (after Gentius, King of Illyria, who is said to have discovered the tonic value of these plants). Gentianaceae. Choice herbs, mostly blue-flowered, grown in the open, many of them in alpine gardening.

Chiefly perennial herbs, only rarely biennial or annual, often dwarf, diffuse or frequently tufted, sometimes erect and slender or even tall and stout: lvs. opposite, rarely verticillate, mostly sessile:-fls. blue, violet, purple, rarely dull yellow or white; floral parts typically 5, rarely 4-7: fr. a caps.—There are about 300 species, widely scattered in temperate and mountainous regions. Many botanists now consider the genus in a highly

Chiefly perennial herbs, only rarely biennial or annual, often dwarf, diffuse or frequently tufted, sometimes erect and slender or even tall and stout: lvs. opposite, rarely verticillate, mostly sessile:-fls. blue, violet, purple, rarely dull yellow or white; floral parts typically 5, rarely 4-7: fr. a caps.—There are about 300 species, widely scattered in temperate and mountainous regions. Many botanists now consider the genus in a highly restricted sense, taking up various names for gentians, such as Amarella Dasystephana, and so on, but they are here all considered as of the genus Gentiana.

restricted sense, taking up various names for gentians, such as Amarella Dasystephana, and so on, but they are here all considered as of the genus Gentiana.

Gentians are amongst the most desirable of alpine plants, and of blue flowers in general, but they are usually considered difficult to establish. The genus is the largest in the family, and from the horticultural standpoint, the most important. The blue gentian, celebrated by tourists in the Alps, is mostly the stemless G. acaulis. This was brought to English gardens so long ago that all record of its introduction is lost. It is by far the most popular kind in

Gentians are amongst the most desirable of alpine plants, and of blue flowers in general, but they are usually considered difficult to establish. The genus is the largest in the family, and from the horticultural standpoint, the most important. The blue gentian, celebrated by tourists in the Alps, is mostly the stemless G. acaulis. This was brought to English gardens so long ago that all record of its introduction is lost. It is by far the most popular kind in cultivation. This species is by some split into five distinct forms, of which G. angustifolia, Vill. (not Michx.), is nearest to the Gentianella of English gardens. It has been so much modified in cultivation that it now has stems 4 to 6 inches high and the rootstock is so stoloniferous that the plant has to be cut back every year when used for edgings in English gardens. In France it is easily grown in a compost of one-half humus or leaf-soil and one-half good vegetable mold, to which may be added a little sand. Correvon writes: "It can be multiplied by means of offsets, but it is infinitely better to raise it from seed, and, in doing this, it should not be forgotten that the seeds of this group of gentians are very tedious, and, more especially, very capricious in germinating. I have sown seeds of G. acaulis, some of which did not germinate for twelve months, while others (which I must say were more recently gathered) germinated in a few weeks. The seedlings should be potted as soon as possible and while they are very young. They will begin to flower in about three years from the time of sowing, rarely sooner." Except G. andrewsii. G. saponaria and G. puberula, and perhaps a few others, gentians do not thrive so well in America as in England. Our seasons are too hot and dry. Whenever possible, choose a damp atmosphere.  

cultivation. This species is by some split into five distinct forms, of which G. angustifolia, Vill. (not Michx.), is nearest to the Gentianella of English gardens. It has been so much modified in cultivation that it now has stems 4 to 6 inches high and the rootstock is so stoloniferous that the plant has to be cut back every year when used for edgings in English gardens. In France it is easily grown in a compost of one-half humus or leaf-soil and one-half good vegetable mold, to which may be added a little sand. Correvon writes: "It can be multiplied by means of offsets, but it is infinitely better to raise it from seed, and, in doing this, it should not be forgotten that the seeds of this group of gentians are very tedious, and, more especially, very capricious in germinating. I have sown seeds of G. acaulis, some of which did not germinate for twelve months, while others (which I must say were more recently gathered) germinated in a few weeks. The seedlings should be potted as soon as possible and while they are very young. They will begin to flower in about three years from the time of sowing, rarely sooner." Except G. andrewsii. G. saponaria and G. puberula, and perhaps a few others, gentians do not thrive so well in America as in England. Our seasons are too hot and dry. Whenever possible, choose a damp atmosphere.  

It is rash to generalize on gentian-culture, because some plants are tall, others dwarf, some found on mountains, others in lowlands, some in moist soil, others in dry lands, while some like limestone and others cannot endure it. The annual kinds are of interest only to the expert. Alpine plants in general are singular in requiring an extremely large water-supply, combined with extremely good drainage. Another difficult problem is to keep the plants as cool as they are on the mountains without shading them more than nature does. Gentian seeds are small, and in germination slow and uncertain. They should be sown as soon as gathered, for the thorough drying out of small seeds is, as a rule, soon fatal. Gentians are difficult to establish, and dislike division of the root, but are well worth patient years of trial, for they are very permanent when once established. Nature-like alpine gardens are one of the latest and most refined departments of gardening, and gentians are one of the most inviting groups of plants to the skilled amateur. Consult Alpine Plants.  

It is rash to generalize on gentian-culture, because some plants are tall, others dwarf, some found on mountains, others in lowlands, some in moist soil, others in dry lands, while some like limestone and others cannot endure it. The annual kinds are of interest only to the expert. Alpine plants in general are singular in requiring an extremely large water-supply, combined with extremely good drainage. Another difficult problem is to keep the plants as cool as they are on the mountains without shading them more than nature does. Gentian seeds are small, and in germination slow and uncertain. They should be sown as soon as gathered, for the thorough drying out of small seeds is, as a rule, soon fatal. Gentians are difficult to establish, and dislike division of the root, but are well worth patient years of trial, for they are very permanent when once established. Nature-like alpine gardens are one of the latest and most refined departments of gardening, and gentians are one of the most inviting groups of plants to the skilled amateur. Consult Alpine Plants.  

In the index, those marked with an asterisk (*)appear in American trade catalogues; the others are cultivated abroad. (See also Suppl. list, p. 1328). The plants are perennials and mountain-loving, unless otherwise stated.

In the index, those marked with an asterisk (*)appear in American trade catalogues; the others are cultivated abroad. (See also Suppl. list, p. 1328). The plants are perennials and mountain-loving, unless otherwise stated.

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*''[[Gentiana zollingeri]]''

*''[[Gentiana zollingeri]]''

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==Gallery==

==Gallery==