Gentiana acaulis, the stemless gentian,[5] or trumpet gentian,[6] is a species of flowering plant in the family Gentianaceae, native to central and southern Europe, from Spain east to the Balkans,[7] growing especially in mountainous regions, such as the Alps and Pyrenees,[8] at heights of 800–3,000 m (2,625–9,843 ft).

Gentiana acaulis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Gentianaceae
Genus: Gentiana
Species:
G. acaulis
Binomial name
Gentiana acaulis
Synonyms[2][3][4]

Synonyms of Gentiana acaulis

  • Gentianusa acaulis (L.) Pohl
  • Pneumonanthe acaulis (L.) F.W.Schmidt

Synonyms of Gentiana acaulis subsp. acaulis

  • Ciminalis acaulis Borkh.
  • Ciminalis grandiflora Mayrh.
  • Ciminalis longiflora Moench
  • Gentiana acaulis f. alba S.Redžic
  • Gentiana acaulis var. minor (Nègre) Kerguélen
  • Gentiana excisa C.Presl
  • Gentiana grandiflora Lam.
  • Gentiana kochiana Perr. & Songeon
  • Gentiana kochiana var. minor Nègre
  • Gentiana latifolia (Gren. & Godr.) Jakow.
  • Gentiana vulgaris (Neilr.) Beck
  • Hippion alpinum F.W.Schmidt
  • Lexipyretum acaule Dulac
  • Pneumonanthe grandiflora Gray
  • Thylacitis grandiflora Delarbre

Synonyms of Gentiana acaulis subsp. acaulis

  • Ciminalis dinarica (Beck) Holub
  • Gentiana acaulis var. dinarica Beck
  • Gentiana dinarica (Beck) Beck

Description

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It is a perennial plant, growing up to a height of 10 centimetres (3.9 in) tall and forming a mat up to 50 centimetres (20 in) wide.[9] The leaves, which can be lanceolate, elliptical or obovate,[7] are evergreen, 2–3.5 cm long, in a basal rosette, forming clumps. The trumpet-shaped terminal flowers are blue with olive-green spotted longitudinal throats.[9] They grow on a very short peduncle, 3–6 cm long. The flower stem is often without leaves, or has 1 or 2 pairs of leaves. It likes full sun, is fully hardy and flowers in late spring and summer.

Horticulture

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This plant, like others of its genus, is valued in cultivation for the unusually pure intense blue of its blooms. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[9][10]

Etymology

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The Latin specific epithet acaulis means "short-stemmed".[11]

Taxonomy

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The closely related Gentiana clusii, often called by the same common name as this species, differs in its preference for limy (alkaline) soils. It also has shorter leaves and the flowers have no olive-green stripes.

Phylogeny

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Phylogenetic research suggests G. acaulis is sister to a clade containing 4 other Gentiana species: G. verna, G. bavarica, G. nivalis, and G. utriculosa.[12]

G. alpina (alpine gentian)

G. clusii (sweet lady flower)

G. asclepiadea (willow gentian)

G. froelichii (Karawanken gentian)

G. punctata (spotted gentian)

G. pannonica (brown gentian)

G. purpurea (purple gentian)

G. lutea (great yellow gentian)

G. acaulis

G. verna (spring gentian)

G. bavarica (Bavarian gentian)

G. nivalis (snow gentian)

G. utriculosa (bladder gentian)

Culture

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A depiction of a gentian flower can be seen on the obverse side of Austrian € 0.01 euro coins.[13]

Images

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References

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  1. ^ Bilz, M. 2013. "Gentiana acaulis." The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T203217A2762385. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T203217A2762385.en. Accessed on 09 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Gentiana acaulis L." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  3. ^ "Gentiana acaulis subsp. acaulis". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  4. ^ "Gentiana acaulis subsp. dinarica (Beck) Barina". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  5. ^ Lena Struwe (Editor), Victor A. Albert (Editor), Gentianaceae, Cambridge University Press, 2002; ISBN 0-521-80999-1
  6. ^ "British Wild Plant: Gentiana acaulis Trumpet Gentian". www.ukwildflowers.com.
  7. ^ a b T. G. Tutin; V. H. Heywood; N. A. Burges; D. H. Valentine; P. W. Ball; S. M. Walters; D. A. Webb (1972). Flora Europaea. Vol. 3. Cambridge University Press. p. 62. ISBN 9780521084895.
  8. ^ W. A. Clark (1907). Alpine plants, a practical manual for their culture. Рипол Классик. p. 55. ISBN 9785875292798.
  9. ^ a b c "Gentiana acaulis AGM". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  10. ^ "AGM Plants – Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 42. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  11. ^ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
  12. ^ "[Gentiana alpina + Gentiana ultriculosa] - opentree". Open Tree of Life. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  13. ^ "1 Euro Cent - Austria". numista.com.
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