Fringed Gentian (Gentianopsis crinita)
- Family: Gentian (Gentianaceae)
- Flowering: August-October.
- Field Marks: All gentians have opposite, toothless leaves and symmetrical flowers with petals united below. Fringed gentian differs from all other gentians by its 4 densely fringed petals.
- Habitat: Marshes, sand flats, wet meadows, low woods.
- Habit: Annual herb with fibrous roots.
- Stems: 1-several, erect, usually branched, smooth, up to 2 1/2 feet tall.
- Leaves: Opposite, simple, lanceolate to lance-ovate, pointed at the tip, rounded at the base, smooth, without teeth, sessile, up to 2 inches long.
- Flowers: Solitary in the axils of the uppermost leaves, bright blue, up to 2 1/2 inches long on a smooth stalk up to 6 inches long.
- Sepals: 4, green, up to 1 1/2 inches long, united below into a tube.
- Petals: 4, bright blue, densely fringed across the tip, up to 2 1/2 inches long, united below into a tube.
- Stamens: 4, attached to the corolla tube, not protruding above the tube.
- Pistils: Ovary superior.
- Fruits: Capsules ellipsoid, up to 1 1/2 inches long, with brown seeds.
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