Gentiana clusii

Gentiana clusii
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Gentianaceae
Genus:	Gentiana
Species:	G. clusii
Binomial name
Gentiana clusii E.P.Perrier & Songeon
Synonyms
Ciminalis clusii

Gentiana clusii (sometimes called "Clusius' gentian") is a large-flowered, short-stemmed gentian, native to Europe.

Gentiana clusii is named after Charles de l'Écluse (Carolus Clusius), one of the earliest botanists to study the alpine flora.

Description

This species is very similar to Gentiana acaulis. The two species differ in the presence (G. acaulis) or absence (Gentiana clusii) of green stripes inside the corolla, by the shape of the corners between the petals (pointed in Gentiana clusii, more rounded in G. acaulis), but mostly in their ecology, with Gentiana clusiii preferring limestone areas, and G. acaulis being found over silicaceous rocks.

Distribution

Gentiana clusii (like G. acaulis) is found in the Pyrenees, Alps, Apennines, Jura, Black Forest and the Carpathians.