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Project Noah Nature School
Gentiana verna
This plant is the smallest of gentianes, all in all some 10 to 12 cm tall, and grows in groups. Flowers are terminal, growing on a short stem producing up to three opposing pairs of small elliptical eaves. Flowers are 2 to 3 cm in diameter, with five-lobbed corolla, and most often conspicuous vivid blue. Flowers appear in late spring or early summer.
One of the most widely spread gentians, very common throughout Eurasia and found on low mountain ranges such is Jura (where this specimen was found) on sunny alpine meadows. Pics taken in Regional park "Parc naturel régional du Haut-Jura".
Interesting thing is that a number of superstitions were collected regarding this plant all over Europe - from being struck by lightning if plant was brought to the house to death if the plant was ever picked.
Spotted on Jun 4, 2015
Submitted on Jun 8, 2015
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