MOSS GENTIAN 



Gentiana prostrata Haenke 



This tiny gentian will escape all but the keenest eyes. The flowers 

 open only in bright sunshine, and the stems creep through the grass, 

 as though to elude detection. The corollas are usually of the brightest 

 blue, but sometimes they are white. The minute green leaves have a 

 narrow white cartilaginous border which is not found in other gen- 

 tians. This is a truly alpine plant It is the smallest of the North 

 American gentians. 



The moss gentian ranges from the Colorado Rockies to Alberta 

 and Alaska and the Arctic regions of the Old World. The American 

 plant differs slightly from the typical Eurasian form and is sometimes 

 recognized as variety americana. 



This specimen was found near the shore of Lake Magog at the 

 base of Mount Assiniboine, Alberta, at an altitude of 7,500 feet. 



PLATE I78 



