Jepson Herbarium
		University of California, Berkeley

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Annual to perennial herb [to trees].
Stem: decumbent to erect, < 2 m, simple or branched.
Leaf: simple, cauline, sometimes also basal, opposite or whorled, entire, sessile or basal ± petioled; stipules 0.
Flower: bisexual, radial, parts in 4s or 5s except pistil 1; sepals fused, persistent; petals fused, ± persistent, sinus between lobes often unappendaged; stamens epipetalous, alternate corolla lobes; ovary superior, chamber 1, placentas parietal, often intruding, stigmas 1–2.
Fruit: capsule, 2-valved.
Seed: many.
± 90 genera, 1800 species: worldwide; some cultivated (Eustoma, Exacum, Gentiana). [Struwe & Albert 2002 Gentianaceae. Cambridge Univ Press] Gentianella tenella moved to Comastoma. Key to genera revised by Bruce G. Baldwin. —Scientific Editor: Thomas J. Rosatti.
Unabridged references: [Wood & Weaver 1982 J Arnold Arbor 63:441–487; Struwe & Albert 2002 Gentianaceae: Systematics and Natural History. Cambridge Univ Press]

Key to Gentianaceae

Annual, biennial, glabrous.
Stem: erect, branched or simple below inflorescence.
Leaf: cauline, opposite, also basal or not.
Inflorescence: cyme.
Flower: parts generally in 5s; calyx lobes >> tube (discounting thin membrane between lobes in Centaurium tenuiflorum), ± appressed to corolla tube; corolla salverform, generally pink, lobes < tube, elliptic-oblong, entire or minutely toothed at tip, scales 0, nectary pits 0 (nectaries elsewhere 0); stamens initially curved to 1 side, dehisced anthers spirally twisted; ovary sessile, style thread-like (much wider than filaments), cleft 0.5–1 mm, deciduous, stigmas 2, elliptic to ovate.
± 15 species: temperate, dry-mesic tropics, ± Eurasia, n Africa, Mex. (Latin: centaur, mythological discoverer of plants medicinal properties) Native species moved to Zeltnera.

Plant (3)20–60 cm.
Leaf: basal generally rosetted, 15–70 mm, obovate to widely elliptic, rounded; cauline 8–50 mm, elliptic to lanceolate, acute.
Inflorescence: dense, ± flat-topped; flowers sessile, immediately subtended by 2 bracts.
Flower: corolla lobes 4.5–8 mm.
2n=42. Fields, roadsides; < 200 m. North Coast (especially near Crescent City, Eureka, Fort Bragg);

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Next taxon: Centaurium pulchellum

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Citation for the whole project: Jepson Flora Project (eds.) [year] Jepson eFlora, http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/IJM.html [accessed on month, day, year]
Citation for an individual treatment: [Author of taxon treatment] [year]. [Taxon name] in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, [URL for treatment]. Accessed on [month, day, year].

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Bioregions in which taxon occurs	Red area (if present) is the part of the bioregion lying between the upper and lower elevation limits of the taxon; markers link to CCH specimen records. If the markers are obscured, reload the page [or change window size and reload]. Yellow markers indicate records that may have georeferencing or identification issues.
Chart based on elevation range in Manual and elevations and coordinates of CCH records. Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria. Note: About half of the CCH records include both elevation and coordinates.	Map made in collaboration with Scott Loarie. Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria. View all CCH records   CCH collections by month Duplicates counted once; synonyms included. Species do not include records of infraspecific taxa. Blue line denotes Manual flowering time.