Common names:
Parry's mountain gentian, bottle gentian
Family:
Scientific name:
Gentiana parryi
Main flower color:
Range:
The southern Rocky Mountain states (WY, CO, NM), Arizona and Utah
Height:
Between 4 and 14 inches
Habitat:
Moist locations in the montane and subalpine zones; meadows, streambanks
Leaves:
Ovate, up to 1.5 inches long, somewhat pointed at the tip. Opposite attachment
Season:
June to September
The large, pretty flowers of gentiana parryi are shaped like a goblet; broad at the base, a little narrower towards the top, but wider again at the tip, where the corolla opens out into five rounded lobes (sometimes pointed). These are the petals, between which are five fused sepals, terminating in a narrower, more pointed projection. The top of the flower is blue, while the lower sections are whitish, with greenish-purple flecks and stripes. The center contains a compact group of stamens and a pistil.
Flowers may be borne singly or in small groups (up to 5), and they tend to open fully only during sunny days. Beneath the flower head are several green bracts, large and leaf-like. This species resembles the mountain bog gantian (gentiana calycosa), but this has smaller leaves, and smaller sepal projections.
Flowers may be borne singly or in small groups (up to 5), and they tend to open fully only during sunny days. Beneath the flower head are several green bracts, large and leaf-like. This species resembles the mountain bog gantian (gentiana calycosa), but this has smaller leaves, and smaller sepal projections.
All Contents © Copyright The American Southwest | Comments and Questions | Contribute | Site Map