WILLOW GENTIAN

Gentiana asclepiadea

Gentian Family [Gentianaceae]

sex

18th sept 2019, Stanhope, Peak District.

Photo: © Ann Andrean

It is a perennial with erect stems standing up to 60cm high and with between 1 to 30 flowers. The leaves are lanceolateto ovate and Willow-like in form, hence its common name.

18th sept 2019, Stanhope, Peak District.

Photo: © Ann Andrean

The flowers are quite large with 5 blue petals and purple spots within the tube. A style with surrounding stamens can just be seen within the 'trumpet'. As-yet not fully opened flowers have their pointed petals sticking forwards (the flower on the left). Withereing flowers beneath.

18th sept 2019, Stanhope, Peak District.

Photo: © Ann Andrean

Apart from the long lanceolate leaves, another defining characteristic is the narrow and tubular brownish sepal tube from which the flower emerges. This has long thin sepal teeth, greenish here.

18th sept 2019, Stanhope, Peak District.

Photo: © Ann Andrean

Withering florets.

18th sept 2019, Stanhope, Peak District.

The long, lanceolate willow-like leaves with 5 long veins. They are between 2 to 12cm long.

18th sept 2019, Stanhope, Peak District.

The leaves are also bullate (with bumps between the minor veins).

Uniquely identifiable characteristics

Distinguishing Feature : For a Gentian: the long lanceolate leaves and the narrow and linear sepal tube.

It is a neophyte which can naturalise beside streans and in shady places and is found more often in Northern England and Scotland, and is less naturalised in Southern England.

Gentiana

asclepiadea

⇐ Global Aspect ⇒

Gentianaceae

Distribution
family8Gentian family8Gentianaceae
BSBI maps

Gentiana
(Gentians)