XGentiana algida - Arctic GentianX
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Arctic Gentian -or- Whitish Gentian (Gentiana algida), family Gentianaceae (Gentian)
What a stunning BEAUTY! This is our season for Gentians, and what a lovely species this is. The genus is rather large - 400 species. We were delighted to see these flowers as their distribution is rather limited in the United States; northwestern U.S., Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana - southwestern U.S., Utah - southcentral U.S., New Mexico. These flowers are not especially tall so they could be overlooked; their beauty could be said to be subtle on this account. Look closely and drink in this bloom. Delicate speckles at the tops of the petals, while deep in the bottle beautiful coral colored stamens. Some Gentian's roots are of medicinal value in treating digestive problems and malaria. People living in the mountains say that when the Arctic Gentians bloom, count on snow in six weeks.
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Plant location: Found in the Rocky Mountain National Park tundra - September 7, 2008, and August 22, 2012. Notice how low to the ground the plant stands. As with many arctic dwellers this is a defense mechanism against the high winds that can blow in that environment. See the BONAP distribution map, here. The plants can, at maturity, stand as tall as 6 inches.Plant -
Bloom period: Montana Plant Life shows blooming from June to August. At times the blooms can be extremely long lasting, right up until a frost or early snow.Foliage -
Ice Lakes hike - Silverton Colorado - September 11, 2015
These blooms are showing some age around the top edges of the corolla. We have observed that the amount of purple coloration in the lobes of the corolla can vary quite a bit in intensity. This specimen was found at 12,300' elevation. -
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Bear Tooth Highway - Yellowstone Wyoming - September 1, 2009
Inflorescence macro, a good view into the throat of the flower showing stamens and cream-colored anthers. Description by the Colorado State University Extension website: 'club-shaped pistil; red anthers;'. See the next frame for a display of the 'red' anthers and distinctly club shaped pistil this species develops. -
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Rocky Mountain National Park - Colorado - September 7, 2008
Inflorescence macro, showing the red anthers mentioned in the previous frame. This specimen is obviously more mature than the Bear Tooth Highway plant. Note the extended pistil with the stigma now clearly visible at the tip. -
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Rocky Mountain National Park - Colorado - September 7, 2008
Gentiana algida typically produces it's inflorescence in pairs, described as 'terminal pairs' by Montana Plant Life. -
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Rocky Mountain National Park - Colorado - September 7, 2008
Stamens, and anthers, and pistils ... OH MY! -