Seasonal Wild Flowers

Latin name

Gentiana pneumonanthe

Family

Gentianaceae

Flowering season

August to October

English distribution

It is restricted on heathland in Dorset, Hampshire,

East Sussex, Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire,

Lancashire and Cumbria

See the BSBI distribution map for Marsh Gentian

Habitat

It grows on wet heaths and damp acid grassland,

usually where there is seasonal surface water.

It flowers best when there is light heathland

management such as light burning and grazing.

It is in decline.

Description

Marsh Gentian is a strikingly blue, native, erect,

perennial herb, growing up to 40cm.

The flowers are trumpet-shaped and up to 4cm

across at the top.

The 5 blue petals are connected by shorter

membranous lobes and are unfringed.

There are pale green streaks on the outside of

the petals.

Inside the corolla the petals are patterned with

ringed greenish spots towards the top and

yellow-green nectary guides towards the base.

There are 5 white stamens forming a tube.

The anthers are spreading and slightly pink.

The 2 white stigmas are above the stamens.

The calyx has 5 thin, lanceolate purple or green

sepals.

The fruit is a capsule.

Leaves are opposite and narrow.

The stem varies from green to reddish purple.