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Gentianaceae
Frasera

not marked as a favorite taxon Frasera caroliniensis Walter. Common name: American Columbo. Phenology: Late May-Jul; Sep-Oct. Habitat: Rich forests and woodlands over mafic or calcareous rocks, upper slopes of cove forests, floodplain forests. Distribution: W. New York, nw. Pennsylvania, and s. Ontario west to Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, and e. Oklahoma, south to w. South Carolina, n. Georgia, and Louisiana, primarily west of the Blue Ridge.

Glossary (beta!)

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Other Comments: Horn (1997) studied the ecology of this species in the Piedmont of SC.

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Can, FNA14, Il, K1, K4, Mi, Mo3, NS, NY, POWO, S, Tn, W, Drake (2011), Threadgill & Baskin (1978); = Swertia caroliniensis (Walter) Kuntze — F, G, Pa, RAB. Basionym: Frasera caroliniensis Walter 1788

Links to other floras: = Frasera caroliniensis - FNA14

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Heliophily ⓘ: 5

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image #1 of Frasera caroliniensis© Alan Cressler: Frasera caroliniensis, Carters Lake the Hidden Pond Songbird Trail, Reregulation Dam Recreation Area, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Murray County, Georgia 3 by Alan Cressler source
image #2 of Frasera caroliniensis© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Frasera caroliniensis© Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael J. Papay source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Frasera caroliniensis© Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael J. Papay source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Frasera caroliniensis© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Frasera caroliniensis© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #7 of Frasera caroliniensisno rights reserved, uploaded by Bonnie Isaac source CC0 | Original Image ⭷
image #8 of Frasera caroliniensis© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #9 of Frasera caroliniensis© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #10 of Frasera caroliniensis© ubuntu, some rights reserved (CC BY) source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image #11 of Frasera caroliniensis© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image #12 of Frasera caroliniensisno rights reserved, uploaded by Robb Hannawacker source CC0 | Original Image ⭷
image #13 of Frasera caroliniensisno rights reserved, uploaded by Bonnie Isaac source CC0 | Original Image ⭷
image #14 of Frasera caroliniensisno rights reserved, uploaded by Matt Evans source CC0 | Original Image ⭷
image #15 of Frasera caroliniensis© Will Bennett, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Will Bennett source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image #16 of Frasera caroliniensis© Scott Ward; seedlings germinated by NCBG Hort staff | Original Image ⭷
image #17 of Frasera caroliniensis© Scott Ward, Frasera selfie; Letchworth State Park, NY. | Original Image ⭷
image #18 of Frasera caroliniensis© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #19 of Frasera caroliniensis© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #20 of Frasera caroliniensis© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #21 of Frasera caroliniensis© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #22 of Frasera caroliniensis© Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael J. Papay source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image #23 of Frasera caroliniensis© Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael J. Papay source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image #24 of Frasera caroliniensisno rights reserved, uploaded by Bonnie Isaac source CC0 | Original Image ⭷
image #25 of Frasera caroliniensis© Ryan Sorrells, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ryan Sorrells source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image #26 of Frasera caroliniensis© Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael J. Papay source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: An infrequently seen perennial that stays as a rosette of basal leaves for 5-15 years, finally produces a tall flowering stalk for one season, and then dies. Found in rich forests over mafic or calcareous rocks, upper slopes of cove forests and floodplain forests.

Stems: Flowering stem unbranched, stout, light green to purple and smooth.

Leaves: Basal leaves oblong-elliptic, to 14 in. long and 4 in. wide, with smooth margins; stem leaves in whorls of 4-5, becoming gradually smaller upward.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers many in a narrowly pyramidal panicle; greenish-white with purple specks; ¾-1¼ in. wide; consisting of 4 (5) spreading oblong-lance-shaped petals, 4 (5) linear-lance sepals, 4 (5) spreading stamens and an ovary with a single style. On the lower middle of each petal is a conspicuous fringed, green nectar pad.

Fruits:

Comments:

Height: 3-9 ft.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: An infrequently seen perennial that stays as a rosette of basal leaves for 5-15 years, finally produces a tall flowering stalk for one season, and then dies. Found in rich forests over mafic or calcareous rocks, upper slopes of cove forests and floodplain forests.

stems: Flowering stem unbranched, stout, light green to purple and smooth.

leaves: Basal leaves oblong-elliptic, to 14 in. long and 4 in. wide, with smooth margins; stem leaves in whorls of 4-5, becoming gradually smaller upward.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers many in a narrowly pyramidal panicle; greenish-white with purple specks; ¾-1¼ in. wide; consisting of 4 (5) spreading oblong-lance-shaped petals, 4 (5) linear-lance sepals, 4 (5) spreading stamens and an ovary with a single style. On the lower middle of each petal is a conspicuous fringed, green nectar pad.

fruits:

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: eastern North America



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