Gentiana saponaria, the soapwort gentian or harvestbells, is a 1–2 ft (30–61 cm) tall flowering plant in the Gentianaceae family.

Gentiana saponaria

Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Gentianaceae
Genus: Gentiana
Species:
G. saponaria
Binomial name
Gentiana saponaria

Description

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Similar to the "bottle" gentians like Gentiana clausa and Gentiana andrewsii, it has paired, lanceolate leaves on unbranched stalks, blue or purple blooms, and a stout taproot. The flowers are pollinated by bumblebees.[2][3][4]

Distribution and habitat

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It is native to eastern North America south of the Great Lakes, from Wisconsin to New York, and south to Texas and Florida.[5][6] It is rare in its range, usually found in undisturbed sandy soils.

References

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  1. ^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0". explorer.natureserve.org.
  2. ^ Illinois Wildflowers listing for Soapwort Gentian
  3. ^ Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center listing
  4. ^ ITIS standard report page
  5. ^ "BONAP distribution map of North American Gentiana species". Archived from the original on 2012-03-24. Retrieved 2011-09-04.
  6. ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "​Gentiana saponaria​". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 3 September 2011.