Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Plant Identification => Plant Identification Questions and Answers => Topic started by: goatshed on May 12, 2010, 09:13:45 PM

Title: Gentians
Post by: goatshed on May 12, 2010, 09:13:45 PM

Hello!

I realise this is a UK forum but perhaps someone can help.
I took these photos in Alps/Provence France. I've managed to deduce that this isn't gentiana acaulis but maybe gentiana dinarica or angustifolia, but which, I haven't a clue!
Any help appreciated! I hope the images work :)

Title: Re: Gentians
Post by: Maggi Young on May 12, 2010, 10:50:09 PM

Hello 'Goatshed'  welcome to posting to the forum.

Yes, the website and forum is based in the UK but the membership of the SRGC is spread over nearly 40 countries and the membership of the Forum is very similar!

I am capable of getting gentian species confused, but, based on the French, Alps/Provence location, I rather think that this is G. angustifolia. G. dinarica comes from further east, beginning in central Italy and heading east to Yugoslavia, Croatia, Serbia, Albania. (not necessarily in that order.... my geography is not the best! :-[)

Title: Re: Gentians
Post by: Lesley Cox on May 12, 2010, 11:13:29 PM

And the leaves do look quite narrow, compared with my acaulis, for instance.

Title: Re: Gentians
Post by: goatshed on May 13, 2010, 08:24:53 AM

Thanks for the help :)
What a fascinating forum - it'll stop me doing the housework for hours!

Title: Re: Gentians
Post by: Maggi Young on May 13, 2010, 10:07:59 AM

Oh, Goatshed, that (housework) is one nine letter word that we thoroughly disapprove of here !  ;D ;)

There are SO MANY better things to be doing.... [attach=1]

Title: Re: Gentians
Post by: hadacekf on May 13, 2010, 07:31:24 PM

Hello 'Goatshed'  welcome to the forum.
It is Gentiana acaulis.

Title: Re: Gentians
Post by: goatshed on May 13, 2010, 08:30:43 PM

Thanks for the welcome, though I'm totally confused now! Most of the acaulis photos I've seen seem to have fatter (less straight and narrow) basal leaves. How can I spot the difference?

Title: Re: Gentians
Post by: Maggi Young on May 13, 2010, 08:38:21 PM

I was working on the  first picture where I can see quite a distinct stem ..... I assume G. acaulis to have almost sessile flowers..... but Franz  knows more of this than I do, I'm sure.

Title: Re: Gentians
Post by: ichristie on May 13, 2010, 09:42:00 PM

Hi, the pictures I post may confuse you further but I thought you would like to see them, cheers Ian the Christie kind.

Title: Re: Gentians
Post by: goatshed on May 13, 2010, 10:03:19 PM

Quote

the pictures I post may confuse you further but I thought you would like to see them

You're absolutely right on both counts, thank you :)