Gentiana rubricaulis

Differs from Bottle Gentian (Gentiana andrewsii) which has deep blue flowers that remain closed and flowers with overlapping rounded lobes and fine teeth at the tips. Great Lakes Gentian flowers are paler and open and the small sepals are toothed.

In a restored fen (peatland) in full sun.

comments (3)

Christine Young

Lion

It's neat that the flowers remain closed. Pollinators must have to force their way in. Posted 6 years ago
1. Gary B
  
  Lion
  
  They're barely on the Gentiana rubricaulis and tightly closed on Gentiana andrewsii. Bumblebees seem to be the primary pollinators and somehow they get into the flowers without causing too much damage. Posted 6 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    So cool, isn't it! Posted 6 years ago

The Great Lakes Gentian

Plants: erect, perennial, 30 to 71 cm tall forb
Leaves: mostly stalkless, smooth, light green, opposite
Flowers: white with blue spots to pale greenish/violet to white or gray tinged with blue, 5-parted, 2 to 5 cm long, tubular-shaped with a small opening at the top, folds with 1 tooth between the petals; inflorescence usually terminal clusters; blooms Aug.-Sept.

Info 1 0

Similar species: Gentianales

Species identified by Gary B