''Gentianella'' is a plant genus in the gentian family (Gentianaceae). Plants of this genus are known commonly as dwarf gentians. there were about 256 species in this genus. They are herbs that occur in alpine and arctic habitat types. They are distributed in the Americas, Eurasia, northern Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.von Hagen, K. B., & Kadereit, J. W. (2001)
The phylogeny of ''Gentianella'' (Gentianaceae) and its colonization of the southern hemisphere as revealed by nuclear and chloroplast DNA sequence variation.
''Organisms Diversity & Evolution'', 1(1), 61-79.

Selected species

*''

Gentianella alborosea ''Gentianella alborosea'' is a species of plant in the family Gentianaceae. It is one of two types of hercampuri, which is traditionally used in herbal medicine as an infusion, the other type of hercampuri being '' Gentianella nitida''. It has ...

'' – Hercampuri; Peru *'' Gentianella amarella'' – Autumn gentian, felwort; Northern Europe, United States, Canada *''

Gentianella anglica ''Gentianella anglica'', the early gentian, is a species of flowering plant in the genus ''Gentianella'', native to Great Britain. ''Gentianella anglica'' is endemic to Great Britain and its centre of distribution is in Dorset, Wiltshire, and the ...

'' – Early gentian; Great Britain *''

Gentianella androsacea ''Gentianella androsacea'' is a species of plant in the Gentianaceae family. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominated by grasse ...

'' Ecuador *''

Gentianella anisodonta ''Gentianella'' is a plant genus in the gentian family (Gentianaceae). Plants of this genus are known commonly as dwarf gentians. there were about 256 species in this genus. They are herbs that occur in alpine and arctic habitat types. They are ...

'' Europe (Austria,Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia and Turkey. *''

Gentianella antarctica ''Gentianella'' is a plant genus in the gentian family (Gentianaceae). Plants of this genus are known commonly as dwarf gentians. there were about 256 species in this genus. They are herbs that occur in alpine and arctic habitat types. They are ...

'' *''

Gentianella auriculata ''Gentianella'' is a plant genus in the gentian family (Gentianaceae). Plants of this genus are known commonly as dwarf gentians. there were about 256 species in this genus. They are herbs that occur in alpine and arctic habitat types. They are ...

'' * ''

Gentianella austriaca ''Gentianella'' is a plant genus in the gentian family (Gentianaceae). Plants of this genus are known commonly as dwarf gentians. there were about 256 species in this genus. They are herbs that occur in alpine and arctic habitat types. They are ...

'' Eastern Switzerland, Austria * ''

Gentianella aspera ''Gentianella'' is a plant genus in the gentian family (Gentianaceae). Plants of this genus are known commonly as dwarf gentians. there were about 256 species in this genus. They are herbs that occur in alpine and arctic habitat types. They are ...

'' Austria *''

Gentianella barringtonensis ''Gentianella barringtonensis'', the Barrington snow gentian, is a species of the genus ''Gentianella'' native to New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales i ...

'' – Barrington snow gentian; New South Wales *'' Gentianella bellidifolia'' New Zealand *''

Gentianella bulgarica ''Gentianella'' is a plant genus in the Gentianaceae, gentian family (Gentianaceae). Plants of this genus are known commonly as dwarf gentians. there were about 256 species in this genus. They are herbs that occur in alpine and arctic habitat t ...

'' *'' Gentianella campestris'' – Field gentian; northern, central and southern Europe *''

Gentianella cerina ''Gentianella cerina'' (common name - Auckland Island gentian) is a plant species in the Gentianaceae family, endemic to the Auckland Islands of New Zealand. Description ''Gentianella cerina'' has a thick trunk (caudex) which may be unbra ...

'' – Giant gentian; New Zealand *''

Gentianella cernua ''Gentianella cernua'' is a species of plant in the family Gentianaceae. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominated by grasses (Po ...

'' Ecuador *'' Gentianella ciliata'' – Fringed gentian *''

Gentianella concinna ''Gentianella concinna'' is a flowering plant species, endemic to the Auckland Islands of New Zealand. Description It is an annual plant with much-branched stems up to long. The leaves are fleshy and leathery, oblong-spatheolate to linear-oblo ...

'' New Zealand *'' Gentianella crassulifolia'' Ecuador *'' Gentianella fastigiata'' Ecuador *'' Gentianella flaviflora'' Ecuador *'' Gentianella foliosa'' Ecuador *'' Gentianella fuscicaulis'' Ecuador *'' Gentianella germanica'' – Chiltern gentian, German gentian; UK and Europe *'' Gentianella gilioides'' Ecuador *''

Gentianella gracilis ''Gentianella gracilis'' is a species of plant in the Gentianaceae family. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominated by grasses ...

'' Ecuador *''

Gentianella heterosepala ''Gentianella'' is a plant genus in the gentian family (Gentianaceae). Plants of this genus are known commonly as dwarf gentians. there were about 256 species in this genus. They are herbs that occur in alpine and arctic habitat types. They are ...

'' – Autumn gentian *''

Gentianella hirculus ''Gentianella hirculus'' is a species of plant in the Gentianaceae family. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland and subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland A grassland is ...

'' Ecuador *''

Gentianella hypericoides ''Gentianella hypericoides'' is a species of plant in the Gentianaceae family. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland Shrubland, scrubland, scrub, brush, or bush is a plant community ...

'' Ecuador *''

Gentianella hyssopifolia ''Gentianella hyssopifolia'' is a species of plant in the Gentianaceae family. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland and subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland. The Latin wor ...

'' Ecuador *'' Gentianella jamesonii'' Ecuador *'' Gentianella limoselloides'' Ecuador *''

Gentianella longibarbata ''Gentianella longibarbata'' is a species of flowering plant in the family ''Gentianaceae''. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dom ...

'' Ecuador *''

Gentianella lutescens ''Gentianella'' is a plant genus in the gentian family (Gentianaceae). Plants of this genus are known commonly as dwarf gentians. there were about 256 species in this genus. They are herbs that occur in alpine and arctic habitat types. They ar ...

'' Europe (Carpathians) *''

Gentianella microcalyx ''Gentianella'' is a plant genus in the gentian family (Gentianaceae). Plants of this genus are known commonly as dwarf gentians. there were about 256 species in this genus. They are herbs that occur in alpine and arctic habitat types. They a ...

'' *''

Gentianella nitida ''Gentianella nitida'' is a species of plant in the Gentianaceae family. It is one of two types of hercampuri, which is traditionally used in herbal medicine as an infusion, the other type of hercampuri being ''Gentianella alborosea''. Gentian ...

'' Peru *'' Gentianella oellgaardii'' Ecuador *'' Gentianella patula'' *''

Gentianella polyantha ''Gentianella polyantha'' is a species of plant in the Gentianaceae family. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland. References Endemic flora of Ecuador polyantha Garden roses are ...

'' Ecuador *'' Gentianella praecox'' Germany, Austria, Czech Republic and Poland *'' Gentianella profusa'' Ecuador *'' Gentianella propinqua'' *''

Gentianella quinquefolia ''Gentianella quinquefolia'', commonly called agueweed, is a flowering plant in the gentian family. It is native to eastern North America. Subspecies There are two subspecies: *''Gentianella quinquefolia'' ssp. ''occidentalis'' - a more western ...

'' – Agueweed; eastern North America *''

Gentianella rupicola ''Gentianella rupicola'' is a species of plant in the family Gentianaceae. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominated by grasses ...

'' Ecuador *''

Gentianella saxifragoides ''Gentianella saxifragoides'' is a species of plant in the Gentianaceae family. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominated by gra ...

'' Ecuador *''

Gentianella scopulorum ''Gentianella'' is a plant genus in the gentian family (Gentianaceae). Plants of this genus are known commonly as dwarf gentians. there were about 256 species in this genus. They are herbs that occur in alpine and arctic habitat types. They are ...

'' – Charleston gentian *'' Gentianella spenceri'' *''

Gentianella splendens ''Gentianella splendens'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Gentianaceae. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical swamps and subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland Shrubland, scrub ...

'' Ecuador *'' Gentianella sulphurea'' Ecuador *''

Gentianella tenella ''Gentianella tenella'', the slender gentian or Dane's dwarf gentian, is a species of the genus ''Gentianella ''Gentianella'' is a plant genus in the gentian family (Gentianaceae). Plants of this genus are known commonly as dwarf gentians. t ...

'' – Slender gentian *''

Gentianella tortuosa ''Gentianella'' is a plant genus in the gentian family (Gentianaceae). Plants of this genus are known commonly as dwarf gentians. there were about 256 species in this genus. They are herbs that occur in alpine and arctic habitat types. They ar ...

'' *'' Gentianella uliginosa'' – Dune gentian; Europe *'' Gentianella wislizeni'' *'' Gentianella wrightii''

Description

Vegetative characteristics

''Gentianella''-species grow as one- to two-year-old or more rarely perennial herbaceous plants. The stem

leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...

are arranged cross-wise or more rarely whorled in ground leaf rosettes or distributed on the stem. The leaf blades are simple. Plants range from 3–100 cm in height.

Generative characteristics

Flowers end up individually or in a cymose inflorescence with double flower envelope. The

hermaphrodite In reproductive biology, a hermaphrodite () is an organism that has both kinds of reproductive organs and can produce both gametes associated with male and female sexes. Many Taxonomy (biology), taxonomic groups of animals (mostly invertebrate ...

flowers are 0.5–5 cm long, have four or five petals with entire petal margins, displaying radial symmetry. They have one or two naked nectaries per petal lobe on the upper petal surface. The four or five

sepals A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coined b ...

have grown together. There is no connective skin in the

calyx Calyx or calyce (plural "calyces"), from the Latin ''calix'' which itself comes from the Ancient Greek ''κάλυξ'' (''kálux'') meaning "husk" or "pod", may refer to: Biology * Calyx (anatomy), collective name for several cup-like structures ...

(unlike many in the Gentian family). The four or five

are fused in a tubular or funnel shape, but unlike with many Gentiana-types, no fold-flaps (plicae) are present between the corolla-tips. Appendages may be absent or present as fringed scales at the corolla-leaf-base. There are nectaries at the base of the corolla tube, the length of which varies considerably, and which is variously colored. Some have a ring of vascularized or non-vascularized fimbriae in the corolla throat. There is only one circle with four or five

stamen The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filame ...

s, which are inserted at the corolla tube and do not protrude from it. The

stylus A stylus (plural styli or styluses) is a writing utensil or a small tool for some other form of marking or shaping, for example, in pottery. It can also be a computer accessory that is used to assist in navigating or providing more precision w ...

is short to absent. The two-lobed capsule (fruit) contains many seeds with a smooth to warty surface.

Distribution

Most ''Gentianella-species are native to South America. In addition, species occur in the

Temperate Zones In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (23.5° to 66.5° N/S of Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ranges throughout t ...

of New Zealand, Australia, Asia, Europe, North America and northwestern Africa.

Taxonomy

The genus ''Gentianella'' was introduced in 1794 by

Conrad Moench Conrad Moench (sometimes written Konrad Mönch; 15 August 1744 – 6 January 1805) was a German botanist, professor of botany at Marburg University from 1786 until his death. He wrote 'Methodus Plantas horti botanici et agri Marburgensis' in 179 ...

in ''Methodus Plantas Horti Botanici et Agri Marburgensis : a staminum situ describendi''. The genus name ''Gentianella'' is a

diminutive A diminutive is a root word that has been modified to convey a slighter degree of its root meaning, either to convey the smallness of the object or quality named, or to convey a sense of intimacy or endearment. A (abbreviated ) is a word-formati ...

and means directly translated "Little Gentian".

synonym A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are all ...

for ''Gentianella'' (Moench) are: ''Aliopsis'' (Omer & Qaiser), ''Aloitis'' (Raf.), ''Arctogentia'' (Á. Löve), ''Chionogentias'' (L.G.Adams), ''Parajaeschkea'' (Burkill), ''Pitygentias'' (Gilg), ''Selatium'' (G. Don). The genus ''Gentianella'' belongs to the subtribe Swertiinae from the tribe Gentianeae within the family of Gentians (Gentianaceae). In the past, ''Gentianella'' were added to the genus

gentians ''Gentiana'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the gentian family (Gentianaceae), the tribe Gentianeae, and the monophyletic subtribe Gentianinae. With about 400 species it is considered a large genus. They are notable for their most ...

(''Gentiana''), but these two genera belong to different subtribe today. The clearest distinguishing feature is that in all ''Gentianella species'' native to Central Europe, a fringed scale supplied with guide bundles per each petal tip is present in the throat of the corolla. This resembles a wreath (which is why it is called "wreath gentian" in German). Also, '' Gentianopsis'' with their fringed corolla-ends and hair-ends ('Comastoma') which are likewise fringed, but have anatomically differently constructed pharyngeal scales, were later separated of the Gentinellas.

References

External links

* Gentianaceae genera {{Gentianales-stub