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Appalachian gentian, mountain gentian, showy gentian

Habit Herbs perennial, 1.5–6 dm, puberulent on stems and calyx tubes.
Stems

1–4, terminal from caudex, decumbent to erect.

Leaves

cauline, ± evenly spaced or somewhat more widely spaced distally;

distal blades lance-elliptic to ovate-elliptic, 3–10 cm × 7–40 mm, apex acute to acuminate;

proximal blades oblanceolate to obovate, apex obtuse to acute.

Inflorescences

± dense 1–15-flowered cymes or heads, sometimes with additional flowers at 1–3 nodes or on short branches.

Flowers

calyx 10–20 mm, lobes ± erect, subulate to linear or occasionally oblanceolate, 2–8(–12) mm, margins ciliate;

corolla white to pale or occasionally medium blue or violet, tubular, loosely closed to fully but narrowly open, 25–45 mm, lobes ovate-triangular, 3–6 mm, longer than plicae, free portions of plicae divided 1/2 or more of their length into 2 unequal, ± triangular, lacerate segments, narrower segment usuallly deflexed;

anthers connate.

Seeds

winged.

2n

 = 26.

Gentiana decora

Phenology Flowering fall.
Habitat Mesic woods, roadsides.
Elevation 600–1600 m. (2000–5200 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
GA; KY; NC; SC; TN; VA; WV
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Hybrids of Gentiana decora with G. austromontana, G. clausa, and G. saponaria are known.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 14.
Parent taxa Gentianaceae > Gentiana
Sibling taxa
G. affinis, G. algida, G. andrewsii, G. austromontana, G. autumnalis, G. calycosa, G. catesbaei, G. clausa, G. douglasiana, G. flavida, G. fremontii, G. glauca, G. latidens, G. linearis, G. newberryi, G. nivalis, G. parryi, G. pennelliana, G. platypetala, G. plurisetosa, G. prostrata, G. puberulenta, G. rubricaulis, G. saponaria, G. sceptrum, G. setigera, G. villosa
Synonyms Dasystephana decora
Name authority Pollard: Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 13: 131. (1900)
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