Gentiana aquatica L.

North American material formerly included in this species is better separated as Gentiana fremontii Torrey.

Annuals 5-10 cm tall. Stems ascending, branched from base, glabrous. Basal leaves with petiole 0.5-1 mm; leaf blade ovate-orbicular to orbicular, 5-9 × 2.5-6 mm, margin cartilaginous, apex obtuse to rounded and mucronate, midvein distinct. Stem leaves 3-6 pairs, widely spaced; petiole tube 1-2 mm; leaf blade margin narrowly membranous, midvein abaxially distinct. Lower stem leaf blades oblanceolate, ovate-elliptic, or obovate, 3-4 × 1.5-2 mm, apex obtuse to rounded and mucronate; middle to upper leaf blades navicular to oblong, 3.5-5 × 1.5-2 mm. Flowers few. Pedicel 2-4 mm, slightly longer in fruit. Calyx narrowly obconic, 6-10 mm; lobes triangular, 1.5-2 mm, apex acute, midvein distinct. Corolla blue, closed, tubular, 1.2-2 cm; lobes ovate, 2-2.5 mm, margin entire, apex obtuse; plicae ovate, 1-1.5 mm, margin entire or denticulate, apex obtuse. Stamens inserted at basal part of corolla tube, equal; filaments 2-3 mm; anthers ellipsoid, 0.8-1 mm. Capsules obovoid, 4-6 mm; gynophore to 2.5 cm, slender. Fl. and fr. Jun-Aug.

W Xizang [Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, Tajikistan]

Cold steppes; 4600-5200 m.

Ericala aquatica (Linnaeus) Borkhausen; Gentiana hu-milis Steven.