Gentianaceae . . . . . Gentian family
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)
