Gentiana purpurea. Purple gentian . A native of the Alps of Switzerland and Savoy, also of the Pyrenees, and has been found in Norway. It is a strong growing herbaceous plant, having large fleshy roots, and the flower stems rising from one to two feet high. The blossoms are curious, and of a singularly dingy hue, occasionally varying with more or less purple; they appear in summer.". Drawn by William Miller, engraved by George Cooke. Conrad Loddiges and Sons published an illustrated catalogue of the nursery's plants entitled the Botanical Cabinet. The monthly magazine featured 10 hand-coloured illustrations and ran from 1817 to 1833 to total 2,000 plates. The publication introduced many exquisite camellias from China, exotic orchids and lilies from the New World, and about 100 varieties of heaths from South Africa, which were currently in vogue. (The Victorian era saw a series of manias for flowers - from roses and camellias to heaths, ferns and orchids.). Most of the plates were drawn