Species: Gentiana fremontii Torr.

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Gentiana fremontii Torr.

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TAXONOMY

Family:

Gentianaceae

Genus:

Gentiana

Species Synonyms:

Gentiana aquatica auct. non L.
Chondrophylla aquatica auct. non (L.) W.A. Weber
Chondrophylla fremontii (Torr.) A. Nels.
Ciminalis fremontii (Torr.) W.A. Weber

Common Names:

moss gentian

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

western Alberta, west-central – southwestern Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan:

southwestern Saskatchewan

Ecoregion:

Mixed Grassland, Moist Mixed Grassland

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

calcareous and saline soil in springy meadow depressions

Associated species:

fewflowered spikesedge, northern bog violet, mat muhly, silvery primrose

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Threatened

Nature Conservancy Status:

G4 S2

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

Moss gentian is threatened because it is rare or uncommon and is regionally restricted in Saskatchewan. Most local populations are small and possible threats have been identified.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Height:

1 – 10 cm tall

Roots:

fibrous

Stems:

annual, few to many, lying flat on the ground to erect ascending, branched from the base

Leaves:

basal rosette, blades rounded to oval; stem leaves numerous, 3 – 5 mm long, oblong to lance-shaped, appressed, scarcely recurving, bluish-green, white-margined

Inflorescence:

flowers terminal, solitary

Flowers:

4- to 5-merous; sepals to 8 mm long, slender; petals to 10 mm long, light greenish-purple or whitish; ovary stalk very short

Fruits:

capsule subsessile, included in petals; seeds wingless

GENTIANACEAE KEY FOR GENERA FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN

1 Petals spurred; flowers purplish or yellowish-green	Halenia
1 Petals not spurred; flowers purplish, bluish or whitish	2

2 Petals disc-shaped, with the lobes flat and spreading	Lomatogonium
2 Petals forming a long, slender tube or bell-shaped	3

3 Petal lobes fringed; flowers with four petals, sepals and stamens	Gentianopsis
3 Petal lobes not fringed; flowers usually with five parts

4 Petal lobes firm, erect to spreading ascending, entire; plaits present between petal lobes; flowers stalkless or very short-stalked; nectary at base of ovary	Gentiana
4 Petal lobes spreading, shallowly to deeply fringed, lacking plaits between petal lobes; flowers distinctly stalked; nectary at base of petal tube, alternate with stamens	Gentianopsis

GENTIANA KEY FOR SPECIES FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN

1 Annuals, < 10 cm tall, stem branched from base, may be lying flat on the ground; flowers < 2 cm long; seeds wingless	G. fremontii
1 Perennials, > 10 cm tall, stems simple; flowers usually at least 3 cm long; seeds usually winged	2

2 Petals closed; anthers converging but not united; seeds covering inner walls of capsule	G. andrewsii var. dakotica
2 Petals open; anthers free; seeds along region of sutures in capsule	3

3 Leaves in less than 13 pairs; petal tube to 3 cm long, lobes equalling to slightly surpassing appendages	G. affinis
3 Leaves in up to 19 pairs; petals to 4.5 cm long, lobes at least 2 x as long as appendages	G. puberulenta