Gentiana autumnalis

Linnaeus

Cat. Edwards’s Nat. Hist., 11. 1776.

Common names: Pine-barren gentian
IllustratedEndemic
Synonyms: Dasystephana porphyrio (J. F. Gmelin) Small Gentiana porphyrio J. F. Gmelin G. stoneana Fernald
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 14.
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Herbs perennial, 1.5–5.5 dm, glabrous. Stems 1(–3), terminal from caudex, decumbent to erect. Leaves cauline, gradually more distantly spaced distally; blade linear to narrowly oblan­ceolate, 2–10 cm × 0.5–5 mm, apex obtuse (proximal leaves) to acute. Inflorescences solitary flowers, occa­sionally also terminating 1 or 2 branches, not subtended by bracts. Flowers: calyx 17–40(–53) mm, lobes linear, 10–25(–36) mm, margins not ciliate; corolla deep blue with greenish yellow dots adaxially on lobes or occa­sionally rose-violet or white, funnelform, open, 30–65 mm, lobes spreading, widely ovate, 10–20 mm, free portions of plicae shallowly to deeply divided into 2 subequal, lacerate, attenuate segments; anthers distinct. Seeds winged. 2n = 26.


Phenology: Flowering fall–early winter (southward).
Habitat: Moist meadows, pine barrens.
Elevation: 0–100 m.

Discussion

Gentiana autumnalis is believed to have been extir­pated long ago from Delaware and Maryland.

Variation in the number of floral parts, from four to seven per whorl, is more frequent in Gentiana autumnalis than in the other species of Gentiana in the flora area.

There is a record of a hybrid of Gentiana autumnalis with the highly dissimilar G. villosa in North Carolina.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Gentiana autumnalis"
James S. Pringle +
Linnaeus +
Pine-barren gentian +
N.J. +, N.C. +, S.C. +  and Va. +
0–100 m. +
Moist meadows, pine barrens. +
Flowering fall–early winter (southward). +
Cat. Edwards’s Nat. Hist., +
Illustrated +  and Endemic +
Dasystephana porphyrio +, Gentiana porphyrio +  and G. stoneana +
Gentiana autumnalis +
Gentiana +
species +