Gentiana calycosa
Explorers' gentian, Explorers' Gentian
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Gentianaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Gentiana calycosa (Explorers' gentian) is a native California herb in the Gentianaceae family, recognized by broad leaves and shallow sinus appendage division.
Explorers' gentian is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range high elevations, and Sierra Nevada High Country in wet mountain meadows and slopes at elevations of 1,300 to 3,900 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces deep blue to violet flowers with delicate 25 to 50 millimeter corollas featuring oblong-ovate lobes. Growing with multiple decumbent stems 5 to 45 centimeters tall arising from a caudex, it develops numerous cauline leaves that are ovate to nearly round. Its leaves measure 8 to 50 millimeters long and 6 to 30 millimeters wide, with obtuse to acute tips and subtle, minute serrations along the edges. The flower's distinctive calyx ranges 10 to 20 millimeters long with narrow to wide-ovate lobes that are obtuse to acute.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; key features are broad leaves and shallow sinus appendage division
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet mountain meadows, slopes
Elevation: 1300-3900 m
California counties: El Dorado, Tulare, Siskiyou, Madera, Nevada, Alpine, Plumas, Trinity, Mendocino, Kern, Fresno, Modoc, Shasta, Lassen, Del Norte, Placer, Humboldt, Mono, Inyo, Butte, Amador, Mariposa, Tuolumne
Outside California: to British Columbia, Montana
Bloom period
Gentiana calycosa blooms Jul-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Gentianopsis: Gentiana corolla lobes have folded pleats (plaits) in the sinuses between them and entire lobe margins; Gentianopsis (fringed gentian) lacks pleats and has conspicuously fringed lobe margins.; vs Gentianella: Gentiana has pleated sinuses between the lobes; Gentianella has no pleats, often a fringe of hairs in the throat, and generally smaller flowers.; vs Frasera: Gentiana has a tubular-funnel corolla of fused lobes with pleated sinuses; Frasera and Swertia have wheel-shaped, deeply divided corollas with nectary pits or glands on each lobe.; vs Zeltnera: Gentiana is a fleshy perennial with large blue funnel flowers and pleated sinuses; Zeltnera and Centaurium are slender annuals with pink flat-faced (salverform) flowers and no pleats.; vs Comastoma: Gentiana has pleated corolla sinuses; Comastoma is a tiny alpine annual with a fringe of scales in the corolla throat and no pleats.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gentiana calycosa native to California?
Yes. Gentiana calycosa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Gentiana calycosa bloom?
Gentiana calycosa blooms Jul-Sep.
Where in California does Gentiana calycosa grow?
Gentiana calycosa occurs in El Dorado, Tulare, Siskiyou, Madera, Nevada, Alpine, Plumas, Trinity and other counties, at elevations of 1300-3900 m.
What plant family does Gentiana calycosa belong to?
Gentiana calycosa is in the Gentianaceae family, genus Gentiana.
What habitat does Gentiana calycosa grow in?
Gentiana calycosa grows in Wet mountain meadows, slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.