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]

GENTIANOPSIS

FRINGED GENTIAN

Annual, perennial herb, glabrous
Leaves basal and cauline, opposite
Inflorescence: flower 1 per stem or branch
Flower: parts in 4's; calyx tube distinct, lobes lanceolate, acuminate; corolla > 2 cm, funnel-shaped, blue, rarely white, lobes < or = tube, oblong to elliptic-obovate, obtuse or rounded, ± entire to conspicuously serrate, jagged, or fringed, sinus appendages 0, nectary pits 0 (nectaries on corolla tube near base); ovary stalked, style short or indistinct, persistent, stigma 2-branched
Species in genus: ± 15 species: temp North America, Eurasia
Etymology: (Greek: resembling Gentiana )

Native

G. simplex (A. Gray) H.H. Iltis

Annual, 4–40 cm
Stem erect
Leaves: basal, lower cauline < 20 mm, < 5 mm wide, spoon-shaped, withering early (especially basal); upper cauline several, lance-elliptic, obtuse to acute
Inflorescence: peduncle 1.3–11(14) cm, generally < 2.5(–4) X subtending internode, < whole stem
Flower: calyx 9–27 mm; corolla 17–45 mm
Seed striate-ridged, pointed
Ecology: Wet meadows
Elevation: 1200–3400 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, High North Coast Ranges, High Cascade Range, High Sierra Nevada, San Bernardino Mountains
Distribution outside California: to Idaho
Synonyms: Gentiana s. A. Gray
Horticultural information: TRY.