Common name:
Chiltern gentian
Family:
Scientific name:
Gentianella germanica
Main flower color:
Range:
The Chilterns and a few nearby locations, on chalky soils
Height:
Up to 30 cm
Habitat:
Chalk grassland
Flowers:
In clusters at the top of the stem and most of the leaf nodes. The calyx is around 15 mm long, divided to more than half its height into five narrow, equally-sized lobes, while the corolla is up to 35 mm long, with five dark purple, triangular lobes and a fringe of thick white hairs around the upper end of the tube. The outer surface of the corolla tube is crossed by transverse wrinkles. Buds are yellow
Leaves:
Opposite, lanceolate, stalkless, relatively broad; up to 10 mm across and 30 cm long. Veins, and stems, are often purplish
Season:
August to October
Rarity:
★★★★★
