''Gentiana saponaria'', the soapwort gentian or harvestbells, is a tall flowering plant in the

Gentianaceae Gentianaceae is a family of flowering plants of 103 genera and about 1600 species. Etymology The family takes its name from the genus '' Gentiana'', named after the Illyrian king Gentius. Distribution Distribution is cosmopolitan. Characteri ...

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Description

Similar to the "bottle" gentians like ''

Gentiana clausa ''Gentiana clausa'', one of several plants with the common name " bottle gentian", is a 1'–2' tall flowering plant in the Gentianaceae family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by ...

'' and ''

Gentiana andrewsii ''Gentiana andrewsii'', the bottle gentian, closed gentian, or closed bottle gentian, is an herbaceous species of flowering plant in the gentian family Gentianaceae. ''Gentiana andrewsii'' is native to northeastern North America, from the Dakotas ...

'', it has paired, lanceolate leaves on unbranched stalks, blue or purple blooms, and a stout taproot. The flowers are pollinated by bumblebees.Illinois Wildflowers listing for Soapwort Gentian
/ref>Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center listing
/ref>ITIS standard report page
/ref>

Distribution and habitat

It is native to eastern North America south of the Great Lakes, from Wisconsin to New York, and south to Texas and Florida. It is rare in its range, usually found in undisturbed sandy soils.

References

saponaria ''Saponaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, native to Asia and Europe, and are commonly known as soapworts. They are herbaceous perennials and annuals, some with woody bases. The flowers are abundant, five-petalled ...

Endemic flora of the United States Flora of the Northeastern United States Flora of the Southeastern United States Flora of the North-Central United States Flora of the Appalachian Mountains Plants described in 1753 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus {{Gentianales-stub