The green links below add additional plants to the comparison table. Blue links lead to other Web sites.
enable glossary links

gentian, moss gentian, pygmy gentian

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 prostrata

Gentiana decora

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

Varieties 2+ (1 in the flora).

Gentiana prostrata is variously divided into subspecies and/or varieties. At least two, perhaps more, varieties seem appropriately recognized at that rank (one in the flora).

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

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. FNA vol. 14.
Parent taxa Gentianaceae > Gentiana Gentianaceae > Gentiana
Sibling taxa
G. affinis, G. algida, G. andrewsii, G. austromontana, G. autumnalis, G. calycosa, G. catesbaei, G. clausa, G. decora, 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. puberulenta, G. rubricaulis, G. saponaria, G. sceptrum, G. setigera, G. villosa
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
Subordinate taxa
G. prostrata var. prostrata
Synonyms Chondrophylla prostrata, Ciminalis prostrata Dasystephana decora
Name authority Haenke in N. J. Jacquin: Collectanea 2: 66, plate 17, fig. 2. (1789) Pollard: Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 13: 131. (1900)
Web links