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]

EUSTOMA

CATCHFLY GENTIAN

Annual, short-lived perennial herb, glabrous, ± glaucous
Stem erect, branched
Leaves basal and cauline, opposite, clasping
Inflorescence: cyme or flowers solitary
Flower: parts in 5's; calyx lobed ± to base, lobes linear, narrowly keeled, acuminate; corolla > 2 cm, bell-shaped, lobes >> tube, nectary pits 0; nectaries at base of ovary; ovary sessile, style distinct, slender, stigma 2-lobed
Species in genus: 2 weakly differentiated species: North America, C.Am, West Indies
Etymology: (Greek: beautiful mouth, from corolla tube)

Native

E. exaltatum (L.) Don

Plant 1.5–10 dm
Leaves: basal 2–10 cm, spoon-shaped-obovate to elliptic-oblong, obtuse; cauline 1.5–9 cm, elliptic to lanceolate, ± obtuse, upper acute
Inflorescence: pedicels 2–14 cm
Flower: calyx 10–21 mm; corolla 2–4.5 cm, pale to deep violet-blue, rarely rose-violet or white, throat whitish with dark purple blotches, lobes elliptic to obovate, rounded to subacute
Chromosomes: 2n=±72
Ecology: Roadsides, alkaline marshes, other open, wet places
Elevation: 100–600 m.
Bioregional distribution: South Coast, Peninsular Ranges, Sonoran Desert
Distribution outside California: to se US, C.America, West Indies
Flowering time: Most of year
Horticultural information: IRR, SUN: 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.