Gentiana prolata I. B. Balf.

Perennials 3-7 cm tall. Stems ascending, simple, papillate. Basal rosette leaves few, indistinct; leaf blade triangular, 4-8 × 1.5-2 mm, membranous, apex acute. Stem leaves larger toward apex, uppermost surrounding calyx; petiole tube 2-3 mm; leaf blade ovate to orbicular or sometimes upper leaves lanceolate to elliptic, 4-6(-12) × 3-4 mm, margin smooth, apex obtuse to rounded or rarely acute, midvein distinct. Flowers terminal, solitary, sessile, 5merous. Calyx tube tubular, 7-10 mm, membranous; lobes erect, lanceolate to oblong, 4-7(-9) mm, herbaceous, base slightly narrowed, margin smooth, apex acute to obtuse, midvein distinct. Corolla blue, with pale yellow-white base and dark blue stripes, streaks, and spots, usually closed, tubular to narrowly funnelform, 3-4 cm; lobes ovate to triangular, 4-5 mm, margin entire, apex obtuse; plicae broadly triangular to subtruncate, 0.5-1 mm, margin entire or denticulate, apex obtuse. Stamens inserted at middle of corolla tube; filaments 6-8 mm; anthers narrowly ellipsoid, 1.8-2 mm. Style 1.5-2.5 mm; stigma lobes suborbicular. Capsules ellipsoid, 1.3-1.5 cm; gynophore to 5 cm. Seeds light brown, ellipsoid, 1-1.2 mm. Fl. and fr. Aug-Nov.

Himalaya (Nepal to Bhutan), Assam, S.E. Tibet.

SE Xizang [Bhutan, NE India, Nepal, Sikkim].

3300-5500 m

Grassland slopes, dry rocky hillsides, wet meadows; 3400-4500 m.