Gentianaceae . . . . . Gentian family


Choose flower colour: Blue/pink/mauve . . . or . . . Yellow


Blue, pink and mauve Gentians

Gentiana
Gentiana
Gentianella
Centaurium

See also:

Campanulaceae

Yellow gentians

Cicendia filiformis
Blackstonia perfoliata

Blackstonia . . . . Yellow-wort

Blackstonia perfoliata . . . . Yellow-wort

Locally frequent on calcareous grassland and dunes in En, Wa and Ire

Centaurium . . . . Centauries

Centaurium erythraea . . . . Common Centaury

Leaves acute at apex

Centaurium littorale . . . . Seaside Centaury

Flowers in dense head; leaves rounded at apex and parallel sided - cf. C. erythraea; N. half of Britain

Centaurium pulchellum . . . . Lesser Centaury

Local near the sea; <20 cm

In addition some other rare spp. and hybrids also occur

Cicendia . . . . Yellow Centaury

Cicendia filiformis . . . . Yellow Centaury

Small and inconspicuous; local close to sea in SW Ire, SW Wa and En, Hants and CI

Gentiana . . . . Gentians

Can be confused with Campanulaceae , but flowers usually more electric blue.


Gentiana acaulis . . . . Dwarf Gentian

Cultivated in rock gardens; only rarely naturalised

Gentiana asclepiadea . . . . Willow Gentian

Introduced from C Europe and naturalised in a few damp shady places

Gentiana nivalis . . . . Alpine Gentian

Rare on high mountains in Perth and Angus

Gentiana pneumonanthe . . . . Marsh Gentian

V. local on wet heath in En and N Wa

Gentiana verna . . . . Spring Gentian

V. local on limestone in Teesdale and W Ireland


Gentianella . . . . Gentians

Gentianella campestris . . . . Field Gentian

4-petalled; throughout BI, but esp. N Br

Gentianella amarella . . . . Autumn Gentian

Widespread in BI, esp. on chalk; several subspp. have been recognised including G. amarella subsp. anglica (Early gentian)

Among subspp. is the rare Gentianella amarella ssp. septentrionalis esp. in N Sc:

This group includes several rather rare subspp., several hybrids and the rare G. germanica (Chiltern Gentian)