Gentiana; SPRING GENTIAN. L. La gentiane; Fr. Der enzian; Ger. Gentiaan; Dut. La genziana; Ital. La jenciana; Sp. Goretschafka; Russ. The root, which youth and health despise, To give the weakened stomach strength.-M.s. How delightful it is, when rambling through verdant vales, climbing up the sloping sides of lofty hills, or wandering in the mazes of the wild forest, just as the trees are shooting forth their young leaves, inhaling the fresh air of returning spring, to come, ever and anon, upon some modest flower, which assures us that nature is fast recovering from the congealing yet healthful influence of winter. Such a flower is the Spring Gentian, which they, whose steps lead them through the dale of the Tees in the county of Durham, or into the recesses of the forest there, will find in abundance, in March and April, especially in the latter month, when it is in perfection; and it is exceedingly plentiful in the neighbourhood of Middleton, in that locality. This beautiful flower is furnished with slender roots, having creeping branches which put forth fibres and tufts of leaves, from the middle of which spring the flowering stems. Its numerous leaves are sessile, of an acutely ovate form, the lower leaves being compressed together, and presenting the appearance of a rosette. M The leaves of the stem are opposite, their bases nearly meeting and sheathing the stem, which is very short and quadrangular, terminating in a solitary flower. The corolla of the flower, which is of an intense blue colour, is cut into five egg-shaped, obtuse lobes, which are more or less crenated. The Spring Gentian (Gentiana verna) is found chiefly in mountainous pastures, but is not at all common. In Ireland it grows near Gort, in the Burrow mountains between Gort and Galway. It is to be regretted that the lovers of nature are not always free from those jealousies, which are said so generally to disturb the breasts of men vieing with each other for distinction in different pursuits; for, alas! this pretty flower was the innocent cause of a breach of friendship between two scientific botanists, who for a long time had shared the honour and pleasure of any new discovery. But one of them becoming acquainted with a locality in which this flower grew in great profusion, kept the knowledge of this treasure to himself; when, on the other accidentally learning the fact, an estrangement was the immediate consequence. Rare as this flower is in its native localities, it is frequently cultivated in the garden as a border flower; it must not, however, be confounded with another species, namely, the dwarf or stemless Gentian (G. acaulis), which is more hardy, and more commonly used for the purpose here named. This species is admitted by some botanists to be a native, but with considerable doubt, being by many supposed to have wandered from the bed or border to the mountainous districts of South Wales, where it appears to grow naturally. It is very frequent in the mountain pas tures of the continent of Europe, whence it is probable it was originally imported into this country. Nearly all the species of this beautiful genus of herbaceous plants possess much of that bitter principle which is so useful in medicine, abounding chiefly in the roots. The Yellow Gentian (G. lutea) is imported in large quantities, on account of its valuable tonic properties; but the Marsh Gentian (G. Pneumonanthe), whose habitat is in moist heaths and damp places, in various parts of England, especially the northern counties, is said to be equally good, and is much used in Russia instead of the former species. The two following are also regarded by some as of equal value: the Autumnal Gentian (G. Amarella), which is found in flower in the months of August and September, in grassy pastures upon limestone rocks; and the Field Gentian (G. campestris), which is the commonest of the British species, growing in meadows and fields, particularly towards the sea, and is not so limited to limestone districts as the previous species. The inhabitants of the rural districts use these two last species indiscriminately, as a stomachic, mixing them with common Centuary (Erythraea centaurium), and using the mixture as tea, taking one or two wine-glasses of the infusion in the day; it is found of great service in strengthening the digestive organs. The following verses, composed by that excellent poet and amiable man, James Montgomery, seem to be intended for one of the species of Gentian, though they are headed with the words, "The Gentianella," which flower (Exacum filiforme) is yellow, as are the other species of that genus. They are addressed to the plant, first, when in leaf, and secondly, when in flower, |