Gentian Family [Gentianaceae] |
status
flower
inner
morph
petals
type
stem
9th Aug 2012, Humphrey Head, Grange over Sands, Cumbria. | Photo: © RWD |
Grows from 15 - 30cm high on grasslands and sand-dunes, but usually avoiding lime. At least two stems are square (centre) of the several flower-heads arising. |
9th Aug 2012, Humphrey Head, Grange over Sands, Cumbria. | Photo: © RWD |
The flowers are paler than those of the very similar Autumn Gentian tending more towards blue-purple. The two outer sepals are also wider and longer than those of Autumn Gentian. |
9th Aug 2012, Humphrey Head, Grange over Sands, Cumbria. | Photo: © RWD |
The outer sepals always overlap the narrower inner ones. |
9th Aug 2012, Humphrey Head, Grange over Sands, Cumbria. | Photo: © RWD |
The flowers always have four petals (never sometimes five as those of Autumn Gentian) |
9th Aug 2012, Humphrey Head, Grange over Sands, Cumbria. | Photo: © RWD |
9th Aug 2012, Humphrey Head, Grange over Sands, Cumbria. | Photo: © RWD |
The fringes partially occluding the anthers and sepal opening are thinner than those on Autumn Gentian. |
9th Aug 2012, Humphrey Head, Grange over Sands, Cumbria. | Photo: © RWD |
Your Author knows not which insects the flower is making entry to the nectar more difficult. |
Easily mistaken for : Autumn Gentian (Gentianella amarella) - see captions for differences.
Some resemblance to : Distinguishing Feature : It is now quite rare in the south of the UK, preferring a more northerly distribution. Trying to avoid lime, it prefers neutral or slightly acidic soils of pasture and grassland, sand dunes and low-lying grassy plains near northerly coasts (machair).
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Gentianella | campestris | ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ | Gentianaceae |
Gentianella (Gentians) |
Gentian Family [Gentianaceae] |