Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center


Home	About NPWRC	Our Science	Staff	Employment	Contacts	Common Questions	About the Site

Western Wetland Flora

Field Office Guide to Plant Species

Northern Gentian
Gentianella amare11a (L.) Boerner

JPG -- Species Photo JPG -- Distribution Map

Family: Gentian (Gentianaceae)
Flowering: June-September
Field Marks: Gentianella differs from other genera of the Gentianaceae by lacking fringed petals, by lacking folds between the petals, and by having the petals united for more than 2/3 their length.
Habitat: Wet meadows in the mountains.
Habit: Annual herb with fibrous roots.
Stems: Upright, branched, up to 1 1/2 feet tall, smooth.
Leaves: Opposite, simple, smooth, without teeth, the basal leaves spatulate, pointed or rounded at the tip, tapering to the base, up to 2 inches long, the cauline leaves ovate to lanceolate, more or less pointed at the tip, up to 1 1/2 inches lo
Flowers: 2-10 in the axils of the leaves and also terminal; flower stalks slender, up to 2 inches long, smooth.
Sepals: Usually 5, united for more than 1/2 their length, green, up to 1/4 inch long.
Petals: Usually 4, united for more than 2/3 their length, usually blue or purple, nearly an inch long.
Stamens: 5.
Pistils: Ovary superior; stigmas 2.
Fruits: Capsules cylindrical, up to 1/2 inch long; seeds minute, smooth.
Notes: In the past this species has been known as Gentiana heterosepala, Gentiana amarella, or Gentiana acuta.

Previous Species -- Northern Bedstraw (Galium boreale )
Return to Species List -- Group 7
Next Species -- Rainier Pleated Gentian (Gentiana calycosa)

Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/plants/florawe/species/7/gentamar.htm
Page Contact Information: Webmaster
Page Last Modified: Saturday, 02-Feb-2013 06:27:08 EST
Menlo Park, CA [caww54]