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Explorer's Gentian, Mountain Bog Gentian, Rainier Pleated Gentian - Gentiana calycosa


Family: Gentianaceae - Gentian family Genus Common Name: Gentian Native Status: NativeDicot Perennial Herb Leaves:Cauline Leaves:Sessile
Gentiana calycosa - Explorer's Gentian, Mountain Bog Gentian, Rainier Pleated 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) At least one Gentiana species is found in every state in the United States (as well as most of Canada.)

Gentiana calycosa is a plant of moist meadows and stream banks in high elevations of western North America - 8 western mountain states in the United States, and in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada. These photos were taken in Glacier National Park at an elevation of around 6600 feet.

Found in:
CA, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY
Gentiana calycosa

Distribution of Gentiana calycosa in the United States and Canada:
Map unavailable.
Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
Map color key

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Site: Logan Pass, Glacier National Park, Flathead County, MT Date: 2019-August-29Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson
Nikon D7000
Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
The interior of the flower of Gentiana calycosa opens to an attractive bell shape, with pale stripes and usually green spots. The flower has triangular pleats between the lobes where they meet.
Gentiana calycosa

Site: Logan Pass, Glacier National Park, Flathead County, MT Date: 2019-August-29Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
The flower of Explorer's Gentian is violet to deep blue. The lobes are erect, eventually opening abruptly near the tips.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Gentiana calycosa

Site: Logan Pass, Glacier National Park, Flathead County, MT Date: 2019-August-29Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
The flowers are usually solitary at the end of the stem, although there may be as many as 3 flowers in an inflorescence, or an inflorescence branching from the top two or three leaf nodes.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Gentiana calycosa

Site: Logan Pass, Glacier National Park, Flathead County, MT Date: 2019-August-29Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Samsung S8
The leaves of Gentiana calycosa are opposite, with the pairs more or less evenly spaced along the stem. They are sessile, ovate to roundish, and may have minute teeth on the margins.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Gentiana calycosa

Site: Logan Pass, Glacier National Park, Flathead County, MT Date: 2019-August-29Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
Gentiana calycosa grows in clumps of plants with mostly decumbent stems - initially lying on the ground, with the ends of the stem erect. The stems may be up to about 18 inches long - or tall, if the entire stem is erect, as may sometimes be the case.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Gentiana calycosa

References used for identification and information:
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Gentiana calycosa initially published on USWildflowers.com 2019-12-20; Updated 2019-12-20

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All content except USDA Plants Database map Copyright Gerald C. Williamson 2024
Photographs Copyright owned by the named photographer



Code Update 20230302