Gentiana prostrata
Pygmy gentian
Family: Gentianaceae · Type: annual · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Pygmy gentian is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native annual found in the White Mountains in wet mountain meadows at elevations of 3,500 to 3,800 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces medium to deep blue flowers 7 to 18 millimeters long with ovate lobes. Growing with decumbent to prostrate stems just 0.5 to 8 centimeters tall, it forms compact clusters close to the ground. Its leaves are spoon-shaped to broad oblanceolate, 2 to 6 millimeters long, with basal and cauline leaves appearing similar. The flower emerges solitary, with a calyx 3.5 to 10 millimeters long and distinctive triangular lobes.
Habitat: Wet mountain meadows
Bloom period: Jul-Aug
Elevation: 3500-3800 m
Bioregions: W&I (White Mtns)
California counties: Mono
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.