Gentiana calycosa is a species of flowering plant in the family Gentianaceae.[1][2] It is a herbaceous perennial gentian known by the common names explorer's gentian, Rainier pleated gentian, and mountain bog gentian.[3][4]

Gentiana calycosa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Gentianaceae
Genus: Gentiana
Species:
G. calycosa
Binomial name
Gentiana calycosa
Synonyms[1]
  • Dasystephana calycosa (Griseb.) Rydb.
  • Gentiana calycosa subsp. typica Maguire
  • Pneumonanthe calycosa (Griseb.) Greene
  • Dasystephana calycosa var. xantha (A.Nelson) A.Nelson
  • Dasystephana monticola (Rydb.) Rydb.
  • Dasystephana obtusiloba Rydb.
  • Gentiana calycosa f. alpina Herder
  • Gentiana calycosa var. asepala (Maguire) C.L.Hitchc.
  • Gentiana calycosa subsp. asepala Maguire
  • Gentiana calycosa var. monticola Rydb.
  • Gentiana calycosa var. obtusiloba (Rydb.) C.L.Hitchc.
  • Gentiana calycosa var. stricta Griseb.
  • Gentiana calycosa var. xantha A.Nelson
  • Gentiana cusickii Gand.
  • Gentiana gormanii Howell
  • Gentiana idahoensis Gand.
  • Gentiana myrsinites Gand.
  • Gentiana obtusiloba (Rydb.) Hultén
  • Gentiana saxicola English

Description

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The flower of Gentiana calycosa is a funnel-shaped cup opening into a five-petaled face 3 to 5 centimeters (1.2 to 2.0 in) wide, in shades of deep blue to purple. The plant has hardy, thick green leaves on the thin red stems from which the flowers are borne.[5]

Distribution and habitat

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It is native to the mid-elevation mountains of the western United States and Canada from the Sierra Nevada of California to the Canadian Cascades. It grows in a variety of habitats, including rocky slopes, wet meadows, and seeps.[6][7]

Cultivation

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Like other gentians, G. calycosa is an attractive mountain wildflower good for use in alpine gardens, but it may be difficult to grow, preferring rocky soils that are moist.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Gentiana calycosa Griseb". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  2. ^ "Gentiana calycosa Griseb". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000. n.d. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  3. ^ Wyman, Donald (1986). Wyman's Gardening Encyclopedia. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-0-02-632070-2.
  4. ^ Mathews, Daniel (2021-05-11). Cascadia Revealed: A Guide to the Plants, Animals, and Geology of the Pacific Northwest Mountains. Timber Press. ISBN 978-1-64326-113-3.
  5. ^ "UC/JEPS: Jepson Manual treatment for GENTIANA calycosa". ucjeps.berkeley.edu. Retrieved 2023-01-22.
  6. ^ "FNA: Gentiana calycosa". Northwest Wildflowers. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  7. ^ Begley, Ph D. (2023-04-01). Plants of Northern California: A Field Guide to Plants West of the Sierra Nevada. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-4930-6719-0.
  8. ^ Penner, Lyndon (2016-03-21). Native Plants for the Short Season Yard: Best Picks for the Chinook and Canadian Prairie Zones. Brush Education. ISBN 978-1-55059-664-9.


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