Named after Gentius, King of Illyria, who in the 2nd century B.C. found the roots of the herb yellow gentian or bitterwort to have a healing effect on his malaria-stricken troops
Species
andrewsii
After Henry Charles Andrews (fl. 1794–1830), English botanist, botanical artist, and engraver
Identification: Plants are 1-2′ (30-60 cm) tall. One or more round, hairless stems
emerge from the ground, green or purple. Leaves are opposite, sessile, lanceolate to ovate,
up to 4½″ (11 cm) x 2″ (5 cm). They are shiny, and have roughly parallel veins. At the top of the plant,
the leaves form a whorl.
Flowers are blue-violet (sometimes white, pale blue, or pink), and look like buds on the verge of opening, because they never fully open.
Each flower is 1-1½″ (2.5-3.8 cm) tall and up to ½″ (1.3 cm) in diameter. They are often described as
bottle-shaped, and appear from July to October.
The fused flowers dry out, becoming a papery wrapper for a one-inch capsule with seeds.