Wildflowers of the United States

Arctic Gentian, Whitish Gentian - Gentiana algida

Genus Common Name: Gentian

Native Status: Native

Dicot Perennial Herb

Gentiana algida - Arctic Gentian, Whitish Gentian. Gentiana is a large genus of more than 350 species worldwide, with over 30 species found in North America. It is named after Gentius, the last king of Illyria (which was the region of the western Balkans) before its conquest by Rome in 168 BC. Gentius reportedly discovered the medicinal value of Gentians (specifically Gentiana lutea.).

While the distribution of Gentiana algida is not wide in the United States - found only at high altitudes in the Rockies and in much of Alaska (as well as alpine and subalpine meadows and bogs of eastern Asia and Yukon Territory of Canada) - it can be locally abundant in alpine meadows in those areas where it is found.

Found in:
AK, CO, MT, NM, UT, WY

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Distribution of Gentiana algida in the United States and Canada:

Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
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Site: Rocky Mountain National Park, Larimer County, CO Date: 2016-August-26	Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson Nikon D7000 Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
The corolla lobes of Gentiana algida are pale yellow to a pale yellow-green with blue stripes toward the tips, with pleats between the lobes (plicae.) Note that the absence of plicae differentiate Gentiana from Gentianopsis species.

Site: Rocky Mountain National Park, Larimer County, CO Date: 2016-August-26	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson Nikon D7000
The lovely flowers of Arctic Gentian are among those Gentians that open. In this photo it exposes the interior, showing the blue spots on the corolla lobes and plicae, and the pink anthers surrounding the yellow stigma. The anthers will fade with age as the stigma splits along its vertically linear divide.
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Site: Rocky Mountain National Park, Larimer County, CO Date: 2016-August-26	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson Nikon D7000
The flowers are bell or funnel shaped when opened. It blooms in late summer.
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Site: Rocky Mountain National Park, Larimer County, CO Date: 2016-August-26	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson Nikon D7000
While there is a dense rosette of basal leaves, there are also 1 to 3 pairs of caudle leaves on the plant, which grows to about 8 inches tall.
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References used for identification and information:

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Gentiana algida initially published on USWildflowers.com 2016-11-18; Updated 2016-11-18

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Code Update 20230302