GENTIANACE/E— GENTIAN 

 FAMILY 



FRINGED GENTIAN 



Gentidna crinita 



Named in honor of Gentius, king of ancient II- 

 lyria, who is said to have discovered its medicinal 

 qualities. 



Native, a winter annual or biennial. The 



most beautiful and appealing of our autumn 



flowers; a late bloomer to be looked for in low 



moist pastures and meadows. Delicate, elusive, 



and lovely beyond belief. New England to 



Minnesota and south to Georgia and Iowa. 



September, October. 



Stem. — One to three feet high; branches erect, leafy, 

 smooth, angled, and grooved. 



Leaves. — Basal leaves obovate, obtuse. Stem-leaves 

 opposite, oblong-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, sessile 

 or clasping with a heart-shaped base, margin entire. 



Flowers. — Solitary, blue, borne on the tips of either 

 long or short branches. 



Calyx. — Tubular, four-ridged and four-cleft; lobes 

 lanceolate, acuminate. 



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