Common name: early forest-gentian, snow-gentian
Gentianella polysperes (L.G.Adams) Glenny APNI* Synonyms: Chionogentias polysperes L.G.Adams APNI*
Gentianella diemensis (Griseb.) J.H.Willis APNI*
Description: Plant monocarpic, possibly biennial; caudex small.
Internodes usually 2 or 3. Basal leaves oblanceolate-spathulate, 20–40 mm long, 5–10 mm wide; stem leaves narrow-oblanceolate 15–30 mm long, 3–7 mm wide.
Flowering stems lax to erect, often branching from near base, 12–40 cm high; terminal inflorescence usually 5–7 flowered. Flowers 4 or 5 merous; pedicels 1–7 cm long, subfiliform. Calyx lobes linear to linear-lanceolate, 5–9 mm long, smooth to minutely papillose-serrulate on margins, ± acuminate, sometimes recurved at the apex.. Corolla white with grey-violet veins, tube 4 mm long, lobes to 9 mm long. Stamens 4 or 5; anthers c. 1.5 mm long. Ovary 8 mm long, ovules 70–100;stigmas 0.5 mm long.
Capsule to 20 mm long. Seeds ovoid, 8–10 mm long, pale to greyish orange.
Flowering: Flowers November and December.
Distribution and occurrence: A widespread species in Southern Tablelands NSW, Victoria and Tasmania. Grassy understorey of open montane to subalpine forest and woodland, often in granitic soils.
NSW subdivisions: ST
Other Australian states: Vic. Tas.
Text by Louisa Murray
Taxon concept: L.G. Adams, Fl. Australia vol. 28. (1996); David Glenny (2004): A revision of the genus Gentianella in New Zealand, New Zealand Journal of Botany, 42:3, 361-530
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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