Explorer's Gentian, Mountain Bog Gentian, Rainier Pleated Gentian - Gentiana calycosa
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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 | Distribution of Gentiana calycosa in the United States and Canada: Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program. Map color key Search Our Database: Enter any portion of the Scientific, Common Name, or both.
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| Site: Logan Pass, Glacier National Park, Flathead County, MT Date: 2019-August-29 | Photographer: 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. | |
| Site: Logan Pass, Glacier National Park, Flathead County, MT Date: 2019-August-29 | Photographer: 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
| Site: Logan Pass, Glacier National Park, Flathead County, MT Date: 2019-August-29 | Photographer: 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
| Site: Logan Pass, Glacier National Park, Flathead County, MT Date: 2019-August-29 | Photographer: 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
| Site: Logan Pass, Glacier National Park, Flathead County, MT Date: 2019-August-29 | Photographer: 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
| References used for identification and information: |
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