Page authors: Don Knoke, David Giblin
Gentiana affinis
pleated gentian, prairie gentian, Rocky Mtn. gentian
Specimens
Photos

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.

Flowers: July-September

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bumblebees

Description:
General:

Tufted perennials from thick, fleshy roots, the 1-several stems erect to decumbent, 1.5-8 dm. tall.

Leaves:

Leaves 8-15 pairs, the lowermost reduced to sheathing, bladeless bases; blades of middle cauline leaves lanceolate to elliptic-ovate, 2-5 cm. long and 5-20 mm. broad; floral leaves shorter and broader.

Flowers:

Flowers few, crowded, arising from the upper nodes; peduncles 5-25 mm. long, with a linear to ovate bract at the top; calyx tube 3-9 mm. long, greenish-, bluish- or purplish-tinged, the 5 lobes unequal, from longer than the tube to lacking; corolla narrowly funnel-shaped, 2.5-4 cm. long, deep blue, mottled with green, the 5 lobes 4-6 mm. long, with 2-5 narrow segments between the lobes; stamens 5, shorter than the corolla tube; ovary superior, with a long stipe; style short, cleft.

Fruits:

Capsule 1-celled, 2-valved.

Accepted Name:
Gentiana affinis Griseb.
Publication: Fl. Bor.-Amer. 2(8): 56-57. 1838.

Synonyms & Misapplications:
Gentiana affinis Griseb. ssp. ovata A. Gray [JPM]
Additional Resources:

PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Gentiana affinis in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database

WA Flora Checklist: Gentiana affinis checklist entry

OregonFlora: Gentiana affinis information

E-Flora BC: Gentiana affinis atlas page

CalPhotos: Gentiana affinis photos

29 photographs:
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