Image of Gentiana utriculosa L.

Description:

Slo.: trebuasti svi - Habitat: grassland among mixed wood patches, flat terrain; moist, calcareous ground; half sunny; humid place; elevation 570 m (1.900 feet); average precipitations ~ 2.400 mm/year, average temperature 8-10 deg C, borderline between prealpine and Dinaric phytogeographical region. Substratum: soil.Comment: Gentiana utriculosa is easy to recognize among numerous other species of this large genus. Its deep blue flowers have a distinct trait, which separates it from all other species of this genus growing in Slovenia. This is its characteristic inflated calyx (collective term for all the sepals) with very prominent 'wings' on its edges. The 'wings' can be up to 4 mm wide. The calyx is as long as the corolla tube and very wide. Gentiana utriculosa can be found scattered in all parts of Slovenia (except in its northeast part) and in many parts of Alpine belt (but not in all), Dinaric and Balkan mountains, Apennines and Carpathians from lowland to subalpine elevations.Ref.:(1) M.A. Fischer, W. Adler, K. Oswald, Exkursionsflora fr sterreich, Liechtenstein und Sdtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 693.(2) A. Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije (Flora of Slovenia - Key) (in Slovenian), Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007), p xx. (3) K. Lauber and G.Wagner, Flora Helvetica, 5. Auflage, Haupt (2012), p 750.(4) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 2., Haupt (2004), p 24.