Species: Gentiana puberulenta J. Pringle

comments | credits | copyright

Back to: Plants at Risk in Saskatchewan

Gentiana puberulenta J. Pringle

Species Image Gallery
(opens in a new window)

TAXONOMY

Family:

Gentianaceae

Genus:

Gentiana

Species Synonyms:

Gentiana puberula auct. non Michx

Common Names:

prairie gentian
downy gentian

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

central Saskatchewan, southern Manitoba – southern Ontario

Saskatchewan:

central Saskatchewan

Ecoregion:

Moist Mixed Grassland

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

mesic prairie

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Endangered

Nature Conservancy Status:

G4G5 N2 S1

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

Gentiana puberulenta is endangered because it is extremely rare in Saskatchewan and is restricted to one very small region. Immediate and probable threats have been identified.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Height:

15 – 50 cm

Roots:

rootstock stout or rhizome

Stems:

perennial, puberulent

Leaves:

basal rosette absent; lower leaves reduced and scale-like; upper cauline leaves opposite, in up to 19 pairs, 1 – 5.5 cm long, 0.3 – 2 cm wide, lanceolate, base obtuse or rounded, puberulent

Inflorescence:

terminal and occasionally in the upper axils, dense, 3 – 10-flowered

Flowers:

5-merous; calyx tubular, tube 7 – 18 mm long, lobes well developed and about equalling tube; corolla to 4.6 cm long, funnelform, open, lobes spreading at maturity and at least 2x as long as 2-cleft appendages, sinus plaits present, corolla blue or purple; anthers free

Fruits:

capsule stipitate; seeds flattened, winged, restricted to sutures of capsule

GENTIANACEAE KEY FOR GENERA FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN

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

2 Corolla rotate	Lomatogonium
2 Corolla salverform, tubular, or campanulate	3

3 Corolla lobes fringed; flowers 4-merous	Gentianopsis
3 Corolla lobes not fringed; flowers usually 5-merous

4 Corolla lobes firm, erect to spreading ascending, entire; plaits present in corolla sinuses; flowers sessile or very short-pedicellate; nectary at base of ovary	Gentiana
4 Corolla lobes spreading, shallowly to deeply fringed, lacking plaits in corolla sinuses; flowers distinctly pedicellate; nectary at base of corolla tube, alternate with stamens	Gentianopsis

GENTIANA KEY FOR SPECIES FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN

1 Annuals, < 10 cm tall, stem branched from base, may be prostrate; 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 Corolla closed; anthers connivent; seeds covering inner walls of capsule	G. andrewsii var. dakotica
2 Corolla open; anthers free; seeds along region of sutures in capsule	3

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