Gentiana decemfida var. aprica - Sun-Loving Gentian

Sun-Loving Gentian is an annual, erect herb, up to 20-25 cm tall. Stem is simple or branched, branches numerous, reddish brown. Basal leaves are 0.7-2.0 x 0.3-1.25 cm, ovate, margin cartilaginous, entire, long tapering. Stem leaves are 0.4-1.2 x 0.05-0.4 cm, lanceshaped, marginate, margin stiff and cartilaginous, entire, long tapering. Inflorescence racemose, in leaf-axils on branches arising from axils of leaves on main stem. Flowers are borne solitary, stalked, 0.7-1.5 cm long. Calyx is less then half the length of flower, 0.5-1.0 cm, tube half the length, sepals lanceshaped, pointed. Flowers are 0.7-1.3 cm long, tube three times the length of petals, 0.5-1.25 cm long, petals 0.25-0.5 x 0.1-0.2 cm, ovate, with a short sharp point, entire, plicae half the size of flower lobes, equal, entire, pointed, bibbed. Stamens are 5, filaments slender, fused at 1/3 the length of flower tube, anthers dorsifixed, arrow shaped, bibbed. Capsules are somewhat protruding, 0.3-0.6 x 0.15-0.2 cm, inverted-lanceshaped, many seeded, seeds trigonous, minute, dark brown, very finely netveined. Sun-Loving Gentian is found in the Himalayas, from Kashmir to Nepal, at altitudes of 900-1200 m.