A large and very natural order, found nearly all over the world, but most abundant in the mountainous regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Genera about 50; species estimated at 500, almost without exception possessing bitter and tonic properties. The yellow gentian (Gentiana lutea) produces gentian-root, one of the earliest-known medicines, and still frequently used. Other species of Gentiana and of the allied genera Erythrea, Chlora, Frasera, Sabbatia, &c., have very similar qualities. Of the 3 genera found in New Zealand, Gentiana has the range of the whole order; Sebæa occurs in Australia, eastern Asia, and South Africa; while Liparophyllum is confined to Tasmania and New Zealand.
| * Leaves opposite. Corolla-lobes contorted in bud. | |
| Flowers small. Corolla cylindric; lobes spreading. Ovary 2-celled. Style deciduous | 1. Sebæa. |
| Flowers large. Corolla campanulate or rotate. Ovary 1-celled. Style persistent | 2. Gentiana. |
| ** Leaves alternate or tufted. Corolla-lobes induplicate-valvate. | |
| Small herb with linear tufted leaves. Fruit fleshy | 3. Liparophyllum. |
1. SEBÆA, R. Br.
Erect glabrous annual herbs. Leaves small, opposite, sessile. Flowers small, yellow, in terminal dichotomous cymes. Calyx 4–5-partite; segments often keeled or winged. Corolla-tube cylindric; lobes 4–5, spreading, contorted in the bud. Stamens 4–5, affixed to the throat or tube of the corolla; filaments short; anthers oblong, introrse, straight or recurved at the tips. Ovary completely 2-celled, placentas large, adnate to the septum; style filiform; stigma clavate or capitate. Capsule globose or ovoid, septicidally 2-valved. Seeds numerous, minute; testa reticulated.
A genus comprising about 20 species, found in tropical and southern Africa, Madagascar, the Himalayas, Australia, and New Zealand. The single New Zealand species is also Australian.
1. S. ovata, R. Br. Prodr. 452.—A simple or sparingly branched annual herb 4–8 in. high; stems 4-angled. Leaves few, in distant pairs, sessile, ¼–½ in. long, broadly ovate or orbicular-ovate, obtuse or subacute. Flowers small, ¼ in. long, pale-yellow, in a terminal dichotomous cyme, with a flower in each axil. Calyx-segments 5, ovate-lanceolate, acute, keeled. Corolla with a long straight tube and 5 short lobes which are twisted after flowering. Anthers linear-oblong, with a gland at the tip. Style short. Capsule oblong.—Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 179; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 191; Benth. Fl. Austral. iv. 371. S. gracilis, A. Cunn. Precur. n. 400; Raoul, Choix, 44.
North Island: Bogs at Mangamuka, Hokianga, R. Cunningham; Hawke's Bay, Colenso! Hamilton! Tryon! South Island: Canterbury—Near Christchurch, Armstrong; Port Cooper, Lyall; Lake Ellesmere and other localities on the Canterbury Plains, Kirk! Otago—Buchanan! Apparently a rare and local plant in New Zealand, but common in many parts of Australia.
