Gentianella quinquefolia (Linnaeus) Small. Common name: Appalachian Gentianella, Eastern Agueweed. Phenology: Late Aug-Oct. Habitat: Forests, grassy balds, roadbanks. Distribution: Primarily Appalachian, from Maine west to w. New York and s. Ontario, south to n. Georgia and sc. Tennessee.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = S; = Gentiana quinquefolia L. var. quinquefolia — F; = Gentianella quinquefolia (L.) Small ssp. quinquefolia — Can, FNA14, K1, K4, NE, NS, NY, POWO, Gillett (1957); = Gentianella quinquefolia (L.) Small var. quinquefolia — C, G, S13, Va; < Gentiana quinquefolia L. — GW2, RAB, W, WV; < Gentianella quinquefolia (L.) Small — Pa. Basionym: Gentiana quinquefolia L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Gentianella quinquefolia ssp. quinquefolia - FNA14
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
- Midwest: FAC
- Northcentral & Northeast: FAC
Heliophily ⓘ: 7
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© Jim Fowler | Original Image ⭷
© Derick Poindexter | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Cressler: Gentianella quinquefolia, Union County, Georgia 1 by Alan Cressler source
© Alan Cressler: Gentianella quinquefolia, Mount Hardy Overlook, Pisgah Ridge, Blue Ridge Parkway, Haywood County, North Carolina 2 by Alan Cressler source
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael J. Papay source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
© Alaina Krakowiak, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alaina Krakowiak source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
© Shaun Pogacnik, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Shaun Pogacnik source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Shaun Pogacnik, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Shaun Pogacnik source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Cressler: Gentianella quinquefolia, Brasstown Ultramafic Ring, Union County, Georgia 1 by Alan Cressler source
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Tara Rose Littlefield, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Tara Rose Littlefield source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Scott Ward source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
© Shaun Pogacnik, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Shaun Pogacnik source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael J. Papay source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Cressler: Gentianella quinquefolia, Blue Ridge Parkway, Haywood County, North Carolina 1 by Alan Cressler source
© Jim Fowler | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Nate Hartley, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Nate Hartley source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael J. Papay source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Cressler: Gentianella quinquefolia, Blue Ridge Parkway, Jackson County, North Carolina 1 by Alan Cressler source
© J.W. Hardin | Original Image ⭷Feedback
Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect annual/biennial found in dry to dry-moist forests, woodlands, clearings and meadows; at lower elevations often occurs over mafic or calcareous rock but is tolerant of a range of soil chemistries at higher elevations.
Stems: Stems simple or sparingly branched and wing-angled.
Leaves: Leaves opposite, in pairs at 90 degrees to each other, sessile to clasping, oval, to 3 in. long, with 4-5 conspicuous parallel veins.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers stiffly erect in terminal and axillary clusters, pale violet-blue or lilac (occasionally greenish-white) with fine purple veins, about ¾ in. long, tubular, the corolla with 5 triangular lobes (usually closed forming a point) surrounded by a short green calyx tube with 5 slender teeth.
Fruits:
Comments: Two varieties of G. quinquefolia are recognized: var. quinquefolia has shorter calyx tube and lobes relative to var. occidentalis, which is more often associated with calcareous barrens and woodlands.
Height: 6-20 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect annual/biennial found in dry to dry-moist forests, woodlands, clearings and meadows; at lower elevations often occurs over mafic or calcareous rock but is tolerant of a range of soil chemistries at higher elevations.
stems: Stems simple or sparingly branched and wing-angled.
leaves: Leaves opposite, in pairs at 90 degrees to each other, sessile to clasping, oval, to 3 in. long, with 4-5 conspicuous parallel veins.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers stiffly erect in terminal and axillary clusters, pale violet-blue or lilac (occasionally greenish-white) with fine purple veins, about ¾ in. long, tubular, the corolla with 5 triangular lobes (usually closed forming a point) surrounded by a short green calyx tube with 5 slender teeth.
fruits:
comments: Two varieties of G. quinquefolia are recognized: var. quinquefolia has shorter calyx tube and lobes relative to var. occidentalis, which is more often associated with calcareous barrens and woodlands.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: