Herbs perennial, 0.7–6 dm, gla­brous. Stems 1–5, terminal from caudex, erect. Leaves cauline, ± evenly spaced; blade obovate or spatulate to elliptic, 2.5–10 cm × 10–40 mm, proximal blade apices retuse or truncate to obtuse, distal ± acute. Inflorescences ± dense 1–10-flowered cymes, often with additional flowers at 1 or 2(–4) nodes or on branches. Flowers: calyx 11–50 mm, lobes linear to oblanceolate, 5–35 mm, margins not ciliate; corolla largely white or greenish white with veins outlined in green, sometimes suffused with violet, or grayish violet ± throughout, tubular, narrowly open, 30–55 mm, lobes ascending, ovate-triangular, 4–10 mm, free portions of plicae obliquely triangular, erose, occa­sionally shallowly bifid; anthers connate or distinct. Seeds not winged. 2n = 26.

Phenology: Flowering fall(–early winter southward).
Habitat: Mesic woods.
Elevation: 0–800 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Ala., Fla., Ga., Ind., Ky., La., Md., Miss., N.C., Ohio, Pa., S.C., Tenn., Va., W.Va.

Discussion

Gentiana villosa is believed to be extirpated from Delaware, the District of Columbia, and New Jersey.

Although the name Gentiana ochroleuca is a hetero­typic synonym of G. villosa, it was sometimes applied to G. flavida during the nineteenth century. Such a mis­application is responsible for reports of G. ochroleuca from Illinois. Reports of G. villosa from Arkansas are plausible but remain unsubstantiated.

The species name is a misnomer as plants of Gentiana villosa species are glabrous. The use of the translation “hairy gentian” as a common name is inappropriate and potentially confusing.

There is one record each of hybrids of Gentiana villosa with G. autumnalis and G. catesbaei.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.