''Gentianella'' is a plant

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

in the

gentian family Gentianaceae is a family of flowering plants of 105 genera and about 1600 species. Etymology The family takes its name from the genus ''Gentiana'', named after the Illyrian king Gentius. Distribution Distribution is cosmopolitan. Characteristi ...

(Gentianaceae). Plants of this genus are known commonly as dwarf gentians. there were about 256 species in this genus. They are herbs that occur in alpine and arctic habitat types. They are distributed in the Americas, Eurasia, northern Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.von Hagen, K. B., & Kadereit, J. W. (2001)
The phylogeny of ''Gentianella'' (Gentianaceae) and its colonization of the southern hemisphere as revealed by nuclear and chloroplast DNA sequence variation.
''Organisms Diversity & Evolution'', 1(1), 61-79.

Selected species

*'' Gentianella alborosea'' – Hercampuri; Peru *''

Gentianella amarella ''Gentianella amarella'', the autumn gentian, autumn dwarf gentian, or autumn felwort, is a short biennial plant flowering plant in the gentian family, Gentianaceae. It is found throughout Northern Europe, the western and northern United States, ...

'' – Autumn gentian, felwort; Northern Europe, United States, Canada *''

Gentianella anglica ''Gentianella anglica'', the early gentian, is a species of flowering plant in the genus '' Gentianella'', native to Great Britain. ''Gentianella anglica'' is endemic to Great Britain and its centre of distribution is in Dorset, Wiltshire, and th ...

'' – Early gentian; Great Britain *'' Gentianella androsacea'' Ecuador *'' Gentianella anisodonta'' Europe (Austria,Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia and Turkey. *'' Gentianella antarctica'' *'' Gentianella arenaria'' Peru *'' Gentianella arenarioides'' Peru *'' Gentianella armerioides'' Peru *'' Gentianella auriculata'' * ''

Gentianella austriaca ''Gentianella'' is a plant genus in the gentian family (Gentianaceae). Plants of this genus are known commonly as dwarf gentians. there were about 256 species in this genus. They are herbs that occur in alpine and arctic habitat types. They ar ...

'' Eastern Switzerland, Austria * ''

Gentianella aspera ''Gentianella'' is a plant genus in the gentian family (Gentianaceae). Plants of this genus are known commonly as dwarf gentians. there were about 256 species in this genus. They are herbs that occur in alpine and arctic habitat types. They ar ...

'' Austria *'' Gentianella barringtonensis'' – Barrington snow gentian; New South Wales *'' Gentianella bellidifolia'' New Zealand *''

Gentianella bicolor ''Gentianella'' is a plant genus in the gentian family (Gentianaceae). Plants of this genus are known commonly as dwarf gentians. there were about 256 species in this genus. They are herbs that occur in alpine and arctic habitat types. They ar ...

'' Peru *''

Gentianella brunneotincta ''Gentianella'' is a plant genus in the gentian family (Gentianaceae). Plants of this genus are known commonly as dwarf gentians. there were about 256 species in this genus. They are herbs that occur in alpine and arctic habitat types. They ar ...

'' Peru *''

Gentianella bulgarica ''Gentianella'' is a plant genus in the gentian family (Gentianaceae). Plants of this genus are known commonly as dwarf gentians. there were about 256 species in this genus. They are herbs that occur in alpine and arctic habitat types. They ar ...

'' *''

Gentianella bussmannii ''Gentianella'' is a plant genus in the gentian family (Gentianaceae). Plants of this genus are known commonly as dwarf gentians. there were about 256 species in this genus. They are herbs that occur in alpine and arctic habitat types. They ar ...

'' Peru *''

Gentianella calanchoides ''Gentianella'' is a plant genus in the gentian family (Gentianaceae). Plants of this genus are known commonly as dwarf gentians. there were about 256 species in this genus. They are herbs that occur in alpine and arctic habitat types. They ar ...

'' Peru *''

Gentianella calcarea ''Gentianella'' is a plant genus in the gentian family (Gentianaceae). Plants of this genus are known commonly as dwarf gentians. there were about 256 species in this genus. They are herbs that occur in alpine and arctic habitat types. They ar ...

'' Peru *''

Gentianella campanuliformis ''Gentianella'' is a plant genus in the gentian family (Gentianaceae). Plants of this genus are known commonly as dwarf gentians. there were about 256 species in this genus. They are herbs that occur in alpine and arctic habitat types. They ar ...

'' Peru *''

Gentianella campestris ''Gentianella campestris'', common name field gentian, is a small herbaceous biennial flowering plant in the Gentianaceae (gentian family) native to Europe. Its bluish-purple flowers contain four petals. Description ''Gentianella campestris'' i ...

'' – Field gentian; northern, central and southern Europe *''

Gentianella canoi ''Gentianella'' is a plant genus in the gentian family (Gentianaceae). Plants of this genus are known commonly as dwarf gentians. there were about 256 species in this genus. They are herbs that occur in alpine and arctic habitat types. They ar ...

'' Peru *''

Gentianella carneorubra ''Gentianella'' is a plant genus in the gentian family (Gentianaceae). Plants of this genus are known commonly as dwarf gentians. there were about 256 species in this genus. They are herbs that occur in alpine and arctic habitat types. They ar ...

'' Peru *''

Gentianella centamalensis ''Gentianella'' is a plant genus in the gentian family (Gentianaceae). Plants of this genus are known commonly as dwarf gentians. there were about 256 species in this genus. They are herbs that occur in alpine and arctic habitat types. They ar ...

'' Peru *''

Gentianella cerastioides ''Gentianella'' is a plant genus in the gentian family (Gentianaceae). Plants of this genus are known commonly as dwarf gentians. there were about 256 species in this genus. They are herbs that occur in alpine and arctic habitat types. They ar ...

'' Ecuador *''

Gentianella cerina ''Gentianella cerina'', commonly known as Auckland Island gentian, is a plant species in the Gentianaceae family, endemic to the Auckland Islands of New Zealand. Description ''Gentianella cerina'' has a thick trunk (caudex) which may be unbr ...

'' – Giant gentian; New Zealand *''

Gentianella cernua ''Gentianella cernua'' is a species of plant in the family Gentianaceae. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominance (ecology), dom ...

'' Ecuador *''

Gentianella cerrateae ''Gentianella'' is a plant genus in the Gentianaceae, gentian family (Gentianaceae). Plants of this genus are known commonly as dwarf gentians. there were about 256 species in this genus. They are herbs that occur in alpine and arctic habitat t ...

'' Peru *'' Gentianella chamuchui'' Peru *''

Gentianella chlorantha ''Gentianella'' is a plant genus in the gentian family (Gentianaceae). Plants of this genus are known commonly as dwarf gentians. there were about 256 species in this genus. They are herbs that occur in alpine and arctic habitat types. They ar ...

'' Peru *'' Gentianella ciliata'' – Fringed gentian *''

Gentianella concinna ''Gentianella concinna'' is a flowering plant species, endemic to the Auckland Islands of New Zealand. Description It is an annual plant with much-branched stems up to long. The leaves are fleshy and leathery, oblong-spatheolate to linear-obl ...

'' New Zealand *'' Gentianella crassulifolia'' Ecuador *'' Gentianella chrysosphaera'' Peru *'' Gentianella fastigiata'' Ecuador *'' Gentianella flaviflora'' Ecuador *'' Gentianella foliosa'' Ecuador *'' Gentianella fuscicaulis'' Ecuador *''

Gentianella germanica ''Gentianella germanica'', common name German gentian, also known in the United Kingdom as the Chiltern gentian, is a flowering plant in the family Gentianaceae. It was chosen as the county flower of Buckinghamshire. Within the UK, it is only na ...

'' – Chiltern gentian, German gentian; UK and Europe *'' Gentianella gilioides'' Ecuador *'' Gentianella gracilis'' Ecuador *'' Gentianella heterosepala'' – Autumn gentian *'' Gentianella hirculus'' Ecuador *'' Gentianella hypericoides'' Ecuador *'' Gentianella hyssopifolia'' Ecuador *'' Gentianella jamesonii'' Ecuador *''

Gentianella limoselloides ''Gentianella limoselloides'' is a species of plant in the family Gentianaceae. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominance (ecolo ...

Gentianella uliginosa ''Gentianella uliginosa'' is a species of flowering plant belonging to the family Gentianaceae Gentianaceae is a family of flowering plants of 105 genera and about 1600 species. Etymology The family takes its name from the genus ''Gentiana'', ...

'' – Dune gentian; Europe *'' Gentianella wayqecha'' Ecuador *'' Gentianella weberbaueri'' Peru *'' Gentianella weigendii'' Peru *'' Gentianella wislizeni'' Mexico *'' Gentianella wrightii'' Mexico

Description

Vegetative characteristics

''Gentianella''-species grow as one- to two-year-old or more rarely perennial

herbaceous plant Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition o ...

s. The stem

leaves A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, ...

are arranged cross-wise or more rarely whorled in ground leaf rosettes or distributed on the stem. The leaf blades are simple. Plants range from 3–100 cm in height.

Generative characteristics

Flowers end up individually or in a

cymose In botany, an inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a plant's stem that is composed of a main branch or a system of branches. An inflorescence is categorized on the basis of the arrangement of flowers on a main axis ( p ...

inflorescence In botany, an inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a plant's Plant stem, stem that is composed of a main branch or a system of branches. An inflorescence is categorized on the basis of the arrangement of flowers on a mai ...

with double flower envelope. The

hermaphrodite A hermaphrodite () is a sexually reproducing organism that produces both male and female gametes. Animal species in which individuals are either male or female are gonochoric, which is the opposite of hermaphroditic. The individuals of many ...

flowers are 0.5–5 cm long, have four or five petals with entire petal margins, displaying

radial symmetry Symmetry in biology refers to the symmetry observed in organisms, including plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria. External symmetry can be easily seen by just looking at an organism. For example, the face of a human being has a plane of symme ...

. They have one or two naked

nectaries Nectar is a viscous, sugar-rich liquid produced by plants in glands called nectaries, either within the flowers with which it attracts pollinating animals, or by extrafloral nectaries, which provide a nutrient source to animal mutualists, ...

per petal lobe on the upper petal surface. The four or five

sepals A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 Etymology The term ''sepalum'' ...

have grown together. There is no connective skin in the

calyx CALYX, Inc. is a non-profit publisher of art and literature by women founded in 1976 based in Corvallis, Oregon. CALYX publishes both '' CALYX, A Journal of Art and Literature by Women'' twice a year and CALYX Books, which publishes one to three ...

(unlike many in the

Gentian family Gentianaceae is a family of flowering plants of 105 genera and about 1600 species. Etymology The family takes its name from the genus ''Gentiana'', named after the Illyrian king Gentius. Distribution Distribution is cosmopolitan. Characteristi ...

). The four or five

are fused in a tubular or funnel shape, but unlike with many Gentiana-types, no fold-flaps (plicae) are present between the corolla-tips. Appendages may be absent or present as fringed scales at the corolla-leaf-base. There are

at the base of the corolla tube, the length of which varies considerably, and which is variously colored. Some have a ring of

vascularized Angiogenesis is the physiological process through which new blood vessels form from pre-existing vessels, formed in the earlier stage of vasculogenesis. Angiogenesis continues the growth of the vasculature mainly by processes of sprouting an ...

or non-vascularized fimbriae in the corolla throat. There is only one circle with four or five

stamen The stamen (: stamina or stamens) is a part consisting of the male reproductive organs of a flower. Collectively, the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filament ...

s, which are inserted at the corolla tube and do not protrude from it. The

stylus A stylus is a writing utensil or tool for scribing or marking into softer materials. Different styluses were used to write in cuneiform by pressing into wet clay, and to scribe or carve into a wax tablet. Very hard styluses are also used to En ...

is short to absent. The two-lobed

capsule (fruit) In botany, a capsule is a type of simple, dry, though rarely fleshy dehiscent fruit produced by many species of angiosperms ( flowering plants). Origins and structure The capsule (Latin: ''capsula'', small box) is derived from a compound (mul ...

contains many seeds with a smooth to warty surface.

Distribution

Most ''Gentianella-species are native to

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a considerably smaller portion in the Northern Hemisphere. It can also be described as the southern Subregion#Americas, subregion o ...

. In addition, species occur in the

Temperate Zone In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (approximately 23.5° to 66.5° N/S of the Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ra ...

s of New Zealand, Australia, Asia, Europe, North America and northwestern Africa.

Taxonomy

The genus ''Gentianella'' was introduced in 1794 by

Conrad Moench Conrad Moench (sometimes written Konrad Mönch; 15 August 1744 – 6 January 1805) was a German botanist, professor of botany at Marburg University from 1786 until his death. He wrote ''Methodus Plantas horti botanici et agri Marburgensis''; in ...

in ''Methodus Plantas Horti Botanici et Agri Marburgensis : a staminum situ describendi''. The genus name ''Gentianella'' is a

diminutive A diminutive is a word obtained by modifying a root word to convey a slighter degree of its root meaning, either to convey the smallness of the object or quality named, or to convey a sense of intimacy or endearment, and sometimes to belittle s ...

and means directly translated "Little Gentian".

synonym A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means precisely or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are a ...

for ''Gentianella'' (Moench) are: ''Aliopsis'' (Omer & Qaiser), ''Aloitis'' (Raf.), ''Arctogentia'' (Á. Löve), ''Chionogentias'' (L.G.Adams), ''Parajaeschkea'' (Burkill), ''Pitygentias'' (Gilg), ''Selatium'' (G. Don). The genus ''Gentianella'' belongs to the subtribe Swertiinae from the tribe Gentianeae within the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Gentian ''Gentiana'' () is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the gentian family ( Gentianaceae), the tribe Gentianeae, and the monophyletic subtribe Gentianinae. With over 300 species, it is considered a large genus. Gentians are notable for thei ...

s (Gentianaceae). In the past, ''Gentianella'' were added to the genus

gentians ''Gentiana'' () is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the gentian family (Gentianaceae), the tribe Gentianeae, and the monophyletic subtribe Gentianinae. With over 300 species, it is considered a large genus. Gentians are notable for their ...

(''Gentiana''), but these two genera belong to different subtribe today. The clearest distinguishing feature is that in all ''Gentianella species'' native to Central Europe, a fringed scale supplied with guide bundles per each petal tip is present in the throat of the corolla. This resembles a wreath (which is why it is called "wreath gentian" in German). Also, '' Gentianopsis'' with their fringed corolla-ends and hair-ends ('Comastoma') which are likewise fringed, but have anatomically differently constructed pharyngeal scales, were later separated of the Gentinellas.

References

External links

* Gentianaceae genera Taxa named by Conrad Moench {{Gentianales-stub