Gentianaceae
Gentian Family
29 common names
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Branching centaury (Centaurium pulchellum)
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington, where known historically; Washington, waif in California, and more common in eastern North America.
Habitat: Meadows, wastelots, and other disturbed areas, generally where moist.
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington, where known historically; Washington, waif in California, and more common in eastern North America.
Habitat: Meadows, wastelots, and other disturbed areas, generally where moist.
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Common centaury (Centaurium erythraea)
Distribution: Chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California east to Montana; also in eastern North America.
Habitat: Wet meadows, prairies, grasslands, roadsides, and wasteland.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Annual, Biennial
Distribution: Chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California east to Montana; also in eastern North America.
Habitat: Wet meadows, prairies, grasslands, roadsides, and wasteland.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Annual, Biennial
Desert centaury (Zeltnera exaltata)
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to the northern Great Plains.
Habitat: Moist places, especially around alkaline lakes and hot springs.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-July
Growth Duration: Annual
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to the northern Great Plains.
Habitat: Moist places, especially around alkaline lakes and hot springs.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-July
Growth Duration: Annual
European centaury (Centaurium erythraea)
Distribution: Chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California east to Montana; also in eastern North America.
Habitat: Wet meadows, prairies, grasslands, roadsides, and wasteland.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Annual, Biennial
Distribution: Chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California east to Montana; also in eastern North America.
Habitat: Wet meadows, prairies, grasslands, roadsides, and wasteland.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Annual, Biennial
Lesser centaury (Centaurium pulchellum)
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington, where known historically; Washington, waif in California, and more common in eastern North America.
Habitat: Meadows, wastelots, and other disturbed areas, generally where moist.
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington, where known historically; Washington, waif in California, and more common in eastern North America.
Habitat: Meadows, wastelots, and other disturbed areas, generally where moist.
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Muhlenberg`s centaury (Zeltnera muehlenbergii)
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Idaho and Nevada.
Habitat: Forest openings, wet areas at low to middle elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Annual
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Idaho and Nevada.
Habitat: Forest openings, wet areas at low to middle elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Annual
Tall centaury (Zeltnera exaltata)
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to the northern Great Plains.
Habitat: Moist places, especially around alkaline lakes and hot springs.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-July
Growth Duration: Annual
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to the northern Great Plains.
Habitat: Moist places, especially around alkaline lakes and hot springs.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-July
Growth Duration: Annual
Elkweed (Frasera speciosa)
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to the Great Plains.
Habitat: Slopes, forest openings, and meadows from middle elevations to the subalpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to the Great Plains.
Habitat: Slopes, forest openings, and meadows from middle elevations to the subalpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Felwort (Swertia perennis)
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in west-central Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains; circumboreal.
Habitat: Streambanks, wet meadows and other moist places, mid- to high elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in west-central Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains; circumboreal.
Habitat: Streambanks, wet meadows and other moist places, mid- to high elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Clustered frasera (Frasera fastigiata)
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in eastern and southeastern Washington; southeastern Washington to adjacent Oregon, east to northeast Idaho.
Habitat: Moist woods and meadowlands.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in eastern and southeastern Washington; southeastern Washington to adjacent Oregon, east to northeast Idaho.
Habitat: Moist woods and meadowlands.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Giant frasera (Frasera speciosa)
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to the Great Plains.
Habitat: Slopes, forest openings, and meadows from middle elevations to the subalpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to the Great Plains.
Habitat: Slopes, forest openings, and meadows from middle elevations to the subalpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
White-stemmed frasera (Frasera albicaulis)
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to Montana and Nevada.
Habitat: Low plains to open areas in the mountains at moderate elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to Montana and Nevada.
Habitat: Low plains to open areas in the mountains at moderate elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Explorer's gentian (Gentiana calycosa)
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in the Cascades, Olympics and Blue Mountains of Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Alberta, Wyoming, and Utah.
Habitat: Subalpine to alpine meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-October
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in the Cascades, Olympics and Blue Mountains of Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Alberta, Wyoming, and Utah.
Habitat: Subalpine to alpine meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-October
Growth Duration: Perennial
Glaucous gentian (Gentiana glauca)
Distribution: Ocurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in northern Washington; Alaska to Washington, east to Alberta and Montana.
Habitat: Tundra and alpine meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Ocurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in northern Washington; Alaska to Washington, east to Alberta and Montana.
Habitat: Tundra and alpine meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
King's gentian (Gentiana sceptrum)
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to northwest California.
Habitat: Bogs and wet places, especially along the coast, at low elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to northwest California.
Habitat: Bogs and wet places, especially along the coast, at low elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Lapland gentian (Comastoma tenellum)
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Okanogan County in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the northern Rocky Mountains; circumboreal.
Habitat: Alpine areas, typically where moist.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Annual
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Okanogan County in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the northern Rocky Mountains; circumboreal.
Habitat: Alpine areas, typically where moist.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Annual
Mt. bog gentian (Gentiana calycosa)
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in the Cascades, Olympics and Blue Mountains of Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Alberta, Wyoming, and Utah.
Habitat: Subalpine to alpine meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-October
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in the Cascades, Olympics and Blue Mountains of Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Alberta, Wyoming, and Utah.
Habitat: Subalpine to alpine meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-October
Growth Duration: Perennial
Northern gentian (Gentianella amarella)
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains and northern Great Plains.
Habitat: Moist areas, sea level to middle elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: Annual, Biennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains and northern Great Plains.
Habitat: Moist areas, sea level to middle elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: Annual, Biennial
Pleated gentian (Gentiana affinis)
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Damp soil and meadowlands, from the valleys and foothills to well up in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Damp soil and meadowlands, from the valleys and foothills to well up in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Prairie gentian (Gentiana affinis)
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Damp soil and meadowlands, from the valleys and foothills to well up in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Damp soil and meadowlands, from the valleys and foothills to well up in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Rocky Mtn. gentian (Gentiana affinis)
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Damp soil and meadowlands, from the valleys and foothills to well up in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Damp soil and meadowlands, from the valleys and foothills to well up in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Samiland gentian (Comastoma tenellum)
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Okanogan County in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the northern Rocky Mountains; circumboreal.
Habitat: Alpine areas, typically where moist.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Annual
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Okanogan County in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the northern Rocky Mountains; circumboreal.
Habitat: Alpine areas, typically where moist.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Annual
Slender gentian (Comastoma tenellum)
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Okanogan County in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the northern Rocky Mountains; circumboreal.
Habitat: Alpine areas, typically where moist.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Annual
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Okanogan County in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the northern Rocky Mountains; circumboreal.
Habitat: Alpine areas, typically where moist.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Annual
Staff gentian (Gentiana sceptrum)
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to northwest California.
Habitat: Bogs and wet places, especially along the coast, at low elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to northwest California.
Habitat: Bogs and wet places, especially along the coast, at low elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Swamp gentian (Gentiana douglasiana)
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to Washington.
Habitat: Bogs and tundra.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-September
Growth Duration: Annual
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to Washington.
Habitat: Bogs and tundra.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-September
Growth Duration: Annual
Umpqua green-gentian (Frasera fastigiata)
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in eastern and southeastern Washington; southeastern Washington to adjacent Oregon, east to northeast Idaho.
Habitat: Moist woods and meadowlands.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in eastern and southeastern Washington; southeastern Washington to adjacent Oregon, east to northeast Idaho.
Habitat: Moist woods and meadowlands.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Monument plant (Frasera speciosa)
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to the Great Plains.
Habitat: Slopes, forest openings, and meadows from middle elevations to the subalpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to the Great Plains.
Habitat: Slopes, forest openings, and meadows from middle elevations to the subalpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Alpine bog swertia (Swertia perennis)
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in west-central Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains; circumboreal.
Habitat: Streambanks, wet meadows and other moist places, mid- to high elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in west-central Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains; circumboreal.
Habitat: Streambanks, wet meadows and other moist places, mid- to high elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Swertia (Swertia perennis)
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in west-central Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains; circumboreal.
Habitat: Streambanks, wet meadows and other moist places, mid- to high elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in west-central Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains; circumboreal.
Habitat: Streambanks, wet meadows and other moist places, mid- to high elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
