Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants of the Northern Great Plains

35. Gentianaceae, the Gentian Family

1. Gentiana L. -- Gentian

1. Gentiana affinis Griseb.

Stems 1-several from the base, 1-4 dm tall, simple or with short, erect branches above in the inflorescence, puberulent on the decurrent leaf bases especially in the upper part. Leaves lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, or the lower ones sometimes ovate to elliptic, 1-4 cm long, 0.3-1.5 cm wide, thick-textured and roughened, bluntly acute to obtuse at the tip, rounded and not clasping at the base. Flowers (1) few to many, 2-3.5 cm long; calyx tube funnelform, 4-8 mm long, the lobes unequal, erect to ascending, linear-lanceolate, less than 1/2 to nearly as long as the tube; corolla tubular to obconic, the lobes distinct, acute to rounded, 2.5-6 mm long, the plicate membrane between the lobes toothed at the summit; anthers free, not fused around the ovary. Seeds roughly oval to elliptic, 1-1.5 mm long. Aug--Sep. Wet meadows, shores, springs, seepage areas and low prairie; ND, MT, n and w SD, WY; (Man. to Yuk., s to SD, CO and CA).

G. puberulenta Pringle (G. puberula of many authors), which is similar to G. affinis, typically grows in drier situations. A few collections, however, have come from low prairie. G. puberulenta is distinguished from G. affinis by its larger flowers (3.5-5 cm long), longer calyx tube (ca. 1 cm long), subequal calyx lobes and longer corolla lobes (4-8 mm long).

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