Western Fringed Gentian

Description:

Several clumped stems with few leaves at base, 2-4 pairs of leaves on stem, and few bell-shaped, deep blue or blue-violet flowers at stem ends or in upper leaf axils on leafless stalks. Habit: native annual herb. Height: 4-16 in (10-40 cm). Leaf: in basal tuft, spatulate, to 2 in (5 cm) long; on stem, opposite, 2-4 pairs, narrowly oblong to lanceolate, clasping. Flower: trumpet, deep blue to deep violet with darker streaks, 1-2 in (2.5-5 cm) tall; 4 wide, overlapping, irregularly toothed petals; terminal or from leaf axil; folding at night, opening in daylight Fruit: small capsule.

Habitat:

Moist sites: meadows, bogs, wetlands; subalpine. Across Canada, and south throughout most of the western mountains to eastern Nevada, Utah, and northern New Mexico.

Notes:

Also called Rocky Mountain fringed gentian, this is the official flower of Yellowstone National Park. Found in Yellowstone National Park!