GENTIANACEAE

GENTIAN FAMILY

James S. Pringle (except as specified)

Annual, perennial herb
Stem decumbent to erect, < 2 m
Leaves simple, cauline (sometimes also basal), opposite or whorled, entire, sessile or basal ± petioled; stipules 0
Flower bisexual, radial, parts in 4's or 5's, except pistil 1; sepals fused, persistent; petals fused, persistent or deciduous, corolla generally without fringes or scales on inner surface, sinuses between lobes generally unappendaged; stamens epipetalous, alternate corolla lobes; ovary superior, chamber 1, placentas parietal, often intruding
Fruit: capsule, 2-valved
Seeds many
Genera in family: ± 80 genera, 900 species: worldwide; some cultivated (Eustoma , Exacum , Gentiana )
Reference: [Wood & Weaver 1982 J Arnold Arbor 63:441–487]

GENTIANELLA

Annual, glabrous
Leaves basal and cauline, opposite
Inflorescence: cyme or flowers solitary in axils or on branches
Flower: parts in 4's or 5's; calyx tube < lobes; corolla < 2 cm, narrowly funnel-shaped, lobes spreading, < tube, subentire, with fringes or scales on inner surface near base, sinus appendages 0, nectary pits 0 (nectaries on lower part of corolla tube); ovary sessile, style indistinct or 0, stigma 2-branched, persistent
Species in genus: ± 250 species: ± worldwide, especially temp to alpine, except Africa
Etymology: (Latin: little Gentiana )
Reference: [Gillett 1957 Ann Missouri Bot Gard 44:195–269]

Native

G. amarella (L.) Boerner subsp. acuta (Michx.) J.M. Gillett

Plant 5–80 cm
Stem erect, 1, often with long branches near base, simple or with shorter branches above
Leaves: basal withering early; lower cauline < 45 mm, spoon-shaped to elliptic-oblong, crowded, upper cauline < 60 mm, oblong-lanceolate to ovate, generally << internodes
Inflorescence: pedicels generally < 2.5(–5) cm
Flower: calyx 5–10(18) mm, lobes 1–6 X tube, linear to lanceolate; corolla blue to rose-violet or white, lobes ovate-triangular, a fringe of hairs across each
Chromosomes: 2n=18
Ecology: Wet meadows, bogs
Elevation: 1500–3500 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, High Cascade Range, High Sierra Nevada, San Bernardino Mountains, White and Inyo Mountains
Distribution outside California: to Alaska, e N.America, Baja California, e Asia
Flowering time: Jun–Sep
Synonyms: Gentiana a. L. var. acuta (Michx.) Herder
Horticultural information: TRY.