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Idaho Mountain Wildflowers

The Gentian Family: Gentianaceae (page 2 of 2)

Swertia, Swertia perennis L. This plant, also known as the felwort, or star gentian, is the only member of its genus found in America. It is found in all of the western states and British Columbia (and it grows in Europe also). The plant is at home in moist montane to sub-alpine meadows. Its petals, ranging from light purple to almost black, have two nectar pits at the base A fruiting capsule, borne at the end of the style makes it quite prominent (note the resemblance of this flower to that of the monument plant below, a reason for cross-classification in the past). The swertia was named for Emanuel Sweert (1552-1612), a 16th century Dutch botanist and author of a catalog of plants.

The Monument Plant, (Giant Frasera, Green Gentian), Frasera speciosa is a tall, elongated cone-shaped plant with flowers clustered around its stem. The plants may live for several years; they bloom only once, however, and then die. Flowering is unpredictable; some years none are seen. The monument plant's flowers are small—up to 3/4” in diameter—but striking when examined closely. Long sepals appear in the clefts between four petals. The petals are greenish-white with small purple spots along their margins. Each petal has two tiny depressions, or pits, at its base. Four stamens appear at the base of the petals surrounding an ovary that bears only one seed. The genus name Frasera honors a Scots nurseryman, John Fraser (1750-1811), who botanized in south-eastern North America during the second half of the 18th century; the name speciosa means "showy."

White Gentian, Frasera montana. From the similarity of the flowers one can see the close relationship of this plant to the one shown above. Its distribution is far more restricted, however, for while the green gentian is found throughout the West, the white gentian is found only in Central Idaho north of Galena SummiFour petaled clustered flowers and white bordered, narrow leaves help to identify the plant.t (US Highway 75). It blooms in late spring on dry ground usually in the company of sagebrush. This plant was photographed near Stanley, ID, where they are relatively common. Jayne Carlson notes that she has recently found the plant growing in Crouch, ID, as well.

The Clustered Elkweed, Frasera fastigiata, (the species name means "clustered" or "bundled") is--like the white gentian--a localized plant that is found only in two counties (Idaho and Kootenai) of Northern Idaho and in the nearby Blue Mountains of Oregon and Washington. It is a relatively tall, large-leaved plant topped with the clustered blue flowers as shown in the illustration. Although Meriwether Lewis surely saw the more widely distributed green gentian, this one is the only frasera--and the only member of the Gentian Family that we know he collected (Gathered on June 14th, 1806, on the Weippe Prairie while the expedition was waiting for the spring snow to melt so that they could assail the Lolo Trail crossing of the Clearwater and Bitterroot Mountains)

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*Swertia, Swertia perennis* L.** This plant, also known as the felwort, or star gentian, is the only member of its genus found in America. It is found in all of the western states and British Columbia (and it grows in Europe also). The plant is at home in moist montane to sub-alpine meadows. Its petals, ranging from light purple to almost black, have two nectar pits at the base A fruiting capsule, borne at the end of the style makes it quite prominent (note the resemblance of this flower to that of the monument plant below, a reason for cross-classification in the past). The swertia was named for Emanuel Sweert (1552-1612), a 16th century Dutch botanist and author of a catalog of plants.
	The Monument Plant, (Giant Frasera, Green Gentian), Frasera speciosa is a tall, elongated cone-shaped plant with flowers clustered around its stem. The plants may live for several years; they bloom only once, however, and then die. Flowering is unpredictable; some years none are seen. The monument plant's flowers are small—up to 3/4” in diameter—but striking when examined closely. Long sepals appear in the clefts between four petals. The petals are greenish-white with small purple spots along their margins. Each petal has two tiny depressions, or pits, at its base. Four stamens appear at the base of the petals surrounding an ovary that bears only one seed. The genus name Frasera honors a Scots nurseryman, John Fraser (1750-1811), who botanized in south-eastern North America during the second half of the 18th century; the name speciosa means "showy."
	White Gentian, Frasera montana. From the similarity of the flowers one can see the close relationship of this plant to the one shown above. Its distribution is far more restricted, however, for while the green gentian is found throughout the West, the white gentian is found only in Central Idaho north of Galena SummiFour petaled clustered flowers and white bordered, narrow leaves help to identify the plant.t (US Highway 75). It blooms in late spring on dry ground usually in the company of sagebrush. This plant was photographed near Stanley, ID, where they are relatively common. Jayne Carlson notes that she has recently found the plant growing in Crouch, ID, as well.
The Clustered Elkweed, Frasera fastigiata, (the species name means "clustered" or "bundled") is--like the white gentian--a localized plant that is found only in two counties (Idaho and Kootenai) of Northern Idaho and in the nearby Blue Mountains of Oregon and Washington. It is a relatively tall, large-leaved plant topped with the clustered blue flowers as shown in the illustration. Although Meriwether Lewis surely saw the more widely distributed green gentian, this one is the only frasera--and the only member of the Gentian Family that we know he collected (Gathered on June 14th, 1806, on the Weippe Prairie while the expedition was waiting for the spring snow to melt so that they could assail the Lolo Trail crossing of the Clearwater and Bitterroot Mountains)