Gentiana fremontii Torr.
Family: Gentianaceae
Moss Gentian
[Chondrophylla aquatica auct. non (L.) W.A. Weber,  more...]
Gentiana fremontii image
© 2010 John Game  

Plant: annual herb; stems 1-several, 1-7 cm tall

Leaves: cauline and in basal rosettes, usually with white margins; basal leaves ovate-elliptic to obovate, 3-7 mm long, 2-5 mm wide; cauline leaves linear-lanceolate, 4-5 mm long, 1-1.5 mm wide, usually imbricate before fruiting

INFLORESCENCE: a single terminal flower

Flowers: 10-14 mm long; calyx tube 4-7 mm long, the lobes 2-3 mm long, linear with white margins; corolla white to light blue, the tube 8-10 mm long, the lobes triangular 2-4 mm long; plicae small triangular points 0.2 mm long; pistil short stipitate

Fruit: cylindric capsule, exceeding corolla; stipe elongating. SEEDS wingless, ca. 1 mm long

Misc: Wet high mountain meadows; 2750-2900 m (9000-9500 ft); Jun-Aug

REFERENCES: Mason, Charles T. 1998 Gentianaceae. J. Ariz. - Nev. Acad. Sci. 30(2): 84.

Gentiana fremontii image
© 2010 John Game  
Gentiana fremontii image
© 2010 John Game  
Gentiana fremontii image
© 2010 John Game