Gentian (4)
Gentians are some of the last flowers to bloom in the season, they are a sure sign that summer is ending. They are easy to recognize with their blue/purple tubular flowers and opposite leaves.
Fringed Gentian
Gentianopsis thermalis (G. detonsa)
Family:
Gentian (Gentianaceae)
AKA:
Rocky Mountain Fringed Gentian
Photo taken on:
July 22, 2007
Location:
Lily Lake, GV, CO
Life Zones:
Montane to alpine
Habitat:
Wet meadows
Grows to 15" with a single 2" flower on a smooth stem. The four petals twist and fold over each other and are fringed on the outer edges.
Fringed Gentian grows in vast colonies carpeting the meadows with purple.
Photo taken on:
August 1, 2007
Location:
Lily Lake, GV, CO
A month later the first bloom in July had fruited but Gentians were still blooming on stalks only 2" high.
Photo taken on:
August 25, 2007
Location:
Lily Lake, GV, CO
Twisted Gentian
Gentianopsis barbellata
Family:
Gentian (Gentianaceae)
AKA:
Perennial Fringed Gentian
Photo taken on:
September 11, 2007
Location:
West Maroon Pass, GV, CO
Life Zones:
Montane to alpine
Habitat:
Rocky, grassy slopes
Grows to 5" with long , thick spatula-shaped leaves. Flower petals are finely fringed all round.
Pleated Gentian
Gentiana affinis
Family:
Gentian (Gentianaceae)
AKA:
Rocky Mountain Gentian
Photo taken on:
August 6, 2007
Location:
Almont, CO
Life Zones:
Foothills to montane
Habitat:
Meadows,
open woods
Grows to 16" in clusters with a maroon stem. The flower is similar to but narrower than Parry's Gentian. Flowers bloom from the leaf axils in a spike-like cluster. Buds are cone-shaped opening with 5 pointed lobes .
Parry's Gentian
Gentiana parryi
Family:
Gentian (Gentianaceae)
AKA:
Bottle Gentian, Mountain Gentian
Photo taken on:
September 3, 2005
Location:
Lake Irwin, GV, CO
Life Zones:
Montane to subalpine
Habitat:
Moist meadows, willows
Grows to 15" in patches. Large goblet-shaped flowers have a white throat and wide-spreading blue tips with greenish-purple dots. Flowers bloom in clusters at the top of the stem.