Gentiana autumnalis Linnaeus. Section: Pneumonanthe. Common name: Pinebarren Gentian. Phenology: Late Sep-mid Jan (rarely at other times of the year, such as spring, in response to fire). Habitat: Longleaf pine savannas, pine flatwoods, sandhills, pine barrens, in a variety of sites varying from moist to very xeric, in se. VA, NC, and SC nearly always associated with Pinus palustris and/or Aristida stricta. Distribution: This species is a "bimodal endemic", occurring in s. NJ and adjacent DE (at least formerly), and from se. VA south through e. NC to nc. SC.
ID notes: G. autumnalis is often overlooked, since it is very inconspicuous except when in flower, it usually flowers at a season when few botanists are about, and sterile plants greatly outnumber fertile ones. Vegetatively it is extremely distinctive once learned; the leaves are glossy, dark-green, opposite, oblanceolate to ‘oblinear’, and twisted and curved in a manner reminiscent of an airplane propeller.
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Taxonomy Comments: The related G. pennelliana Fernald (sometimes reduced to a subspecies of G. autumnalis) is endemic to the FL Panhandle; other siblings, G. bicuspidata (G. Don) Briquet, G. hooperi Pringle, and G. longicollis Nesom, occur in Mexico.
Synonymy ⓘ: = C, F, FNA14, GW2, K4, RAB, Va, Ho & Liu (2001), Pringle (1967a); = Dasystephana porphyrio (J.F.Gmel.) Small — S; = Gentiana autumnalis L. ssp. autumnalis — Halda (1996); = Gentiana porphyrio J.F.Gmel. — G, Tat; = Pneumonanthe porphyrio (L.) Greene. Basionym: Gentiana autumnalis L. 1776
Links to other floras: = Gentiana autumnalis - FNA14
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW
Heliophily ⓘ: 8
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© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Jennifer Peterson | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect perennial of longleaf pine savannas, pine flatwoods, sandhills, and pine barrens in a variety of sites varying from moist to very dry; in se. VA, NC, and SC nearly always associated with Pinus palustris and/or Aristida stricta.
Stems: Stem smooth, rarely branched.
Leaves: Leaves opposite, few, linear to narrowly oblong-lance-shaped, 2-3 in. long and curved parallel to ground..
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers solitary (rarely 2-3) and terminal, deep blue and spotted-streaked with bronze-green inside, to 2 in. long, funnel-shaped, with the corolla tube divided into 4-5 spreading lobes with pleats in between.
Fruits: Fruit an ellipsoid capsule.
Comments:
Height: 6-24 in.
plant sale text: Pine-barren gentian is endemic to the pine barrens of New Jersey and Delaware and the coastal plain of the Carolinas. Once thought to be of limited occurrence, increased use of prescribed fire in longleaf pine ecosystem management has revealed this species local abundance. Pine-barren gentian's bright blue flower petals open outward to expose the sexual organs of the flower unlike the bottle-type gentians. Except for its relatively large flower, one might not notice the pine-barren gentian in passing.
bloom table text:
description: Erect perennial of longleaf pine savannas, pine flatwoods, sandhills, and pine barrens in a variety of sites varying from moist to very dry; in se. VA, NC, and SC nearly always associated with Pinus palustris and/or Aristida stricta.
stems: Stem smooth, rarely branched.
leaves: Leaves opposite, few, linear to narrowly oblong-lance-shaped, 2-3 in. long and curved parallel to ground..
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers solitary (rarely 2-3) and terminal, deep blue and spotted-streaked with bronze-green inside, to 2 in. long, funnel-shaped, with the corolla tube divided into 4-5 spreading lobes with pleats in between.
fruits: Fruit an ellipsoid capsule.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: southeastern United States
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