Gentiana autumnalis
Cat. Edwards’s Nat. Hist., 11. 1776.
Illustrator:
Copyright:
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.
Distribution
N.J., N.C., S.C., Va.
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.