Gentiana saponaria

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

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

Description

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

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

  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. ^ NRCS. "Gentiana saponaria". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 3 September 2011.