Nearctica - Eastern Wildflowers - Gentianaceae - Soapwort Gentian (Gentiana saponaria)

Soapwort Gentian

(Gentiana saponaria)

Color Photograph: NRCS Plants Database, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

Gentiana andrewsii

Closed Gentian also has flowers that remain closed. The flower petals are completely fused to the enclosing fringed membrane.

Gentiana linearis

Narrow-leaved Gentian has narrow, elongate leaves.

Soapwort Gentian (Gentiana saponaria)

Identification: Flowers showy, large, blue-purple. Flower petals held partially closed by a fringed membrane, although tips of petals are free (when spread open by hand). Sepals straight. Flowers in a small terminal cluster and in the leaf axils further down the stem. Leaves lanceolate in opposite pairs and smooth outer margins. Plant 1 to 2.5 feet in height.

Distribution: Minnesota in the west to New York in the east, southward to Florida and Texas.

Habitat: Soapwort Gentian is found in swamps and other wet habitats.

Flowering period: September to October.

Soapwort Gentian (Gentiana saponaria)

Similar Species:

Closed Gentian (Gentiana andrewsii)

Narrow-leaved (Gentiana linearis)

Similar Species