TULIP GENTIAN 

 ( Eustoma grandif lora ) 



A. CLASSIFICATION 



1. FAMILY: Gentian Family (Gentianaceae) 



2. GENUS: Eustoma refers to the open (Gr. eu - good) corolla 

 (Gr. stoma - mouth) , as compared to the narrowly cylindrical 

 or closed corolla of other genera in the Gentian Family. 



3. SPECIES: The species epithet grandif lorum translates 

 literally as big-flowered (L. grand - big; L. florum - 

 flower) . Other common names, beside tulip gentian, are 

 prairie gentian and catchfly gentian. 



B. PRESENT LEGAL OR OTHER FORMAL STATUS 



1. FEDERAL STATUS 



a. U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE: none 



b. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT: none 



2. STATE: The state rank is SI (critically imperiled) based on 

 one record; newly-discovered in McCone County. 



DESCRIPTION 



1. GENERAL NONTECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Tulip gentian is an 

 annual or short-lived perennial with one or more stems, 25- 

 60 cm. tall. The leaves are opposite, broad, whitish, and 

 3-veined. The flowers have five large, cleft petals and 

 sepals; 3.5-5 cm (1.4-2 in) long and 1.2-2.3 cm (.5-. 9 in) 

 long, respectively. The typical petal color is blue-purple 

 with white at the base, as collected in Montana; but other 

 color forms are known elsewhere in its range. 



2. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Erect annual or short-lived 

 perennial, 25-60 cm (10-23.5 in) tall, with one or several 

 stems, internodes 1.4-6 cm (.5-2.4 in) long; tap root 

 elongate. Leaves opposite, elliptic-oblong to lance-ovate, 

 glaucous, 3-veined, 1.5-7,5 cm (.6-3 in) long, 0.3-5 cm (1-2 

 in) wide. Infloresence cymose-paniculate, in clusters of 2- 

 6 flowers, pedicels to 6 cm (2.3 in) long. Flov;ers 5-itierous 

 (rarely 6-merous) ; calyx deeply cleft, lobes keeled, linear- 

 lanceolate, 1.2-2.3 cm (.5 - .9 in) long, 2-3 mm (.4-. 8 in) 

 wide; corolla campanulate, deeply cleft, blue-purple, pink 

 or whitish, lobes elliptic to obovate, 3.5-5 cm (1.4-2 in) 



