Gentianopsis paludosa - Swamp Gentian

Swamp Gentian is an annual herb 3.5-40 cm tall. Stems are rising to erect. Basal leaves are 3-5 pairs, stalk flattened, up to 6 mm. Leaves are spoon-shaped, 0.4-3 cm x 2-9 mm, base narrow, margin rough, tip rounded. Stem leaves are 1-4 pairs, stalkless, lanceshaped to oblong, 0.5-5.5 cm x 2-14 mm, base and apex obtuse, margin rough, veins 1-3. Flower-stalks are erect, 1.5-30 cm, elongated in fruit. Sepal tube is 1-3.5 cm, sepals somewhat equal, outer ones narrowly triangular, 5-12 mm, inner ones ovate, 4-10 mm. All sepals have margin membranous, tip pointed. mid-vein strong and keeled. Flowers are blue or yellowish white to yellow, sometimes pale yellow at base, broadly tubular, 1.6-6.5 cm. Petals are broadly oblong, 1.2-1.7 cm, apex rounded, margin fringed basally. Nectaries are suborbicular, nodding. Filaments are 1-1.5 cm, anthers ellipsoid, 2-3 mm. Style 3-4 mm. Capsules are narrowly ellipsoid - seeds blackish, ellipsoid to subglobose. Swamp Gentian is found in the Himalayas, from Pakistan to Sikkim and Bhutan, at altitudes of 1100-4900 m. Flowering: July-October.