Gentianella amarella subsp. acuta
Northern gentian, Northern Gentian
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Family: Gentianaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Gentianella amarella subsp. acuta (Northern gentian) is a native California herb in the Gentianaceae family, recognized by Circumboreal species representing the only California member of this primarily northern hemisphere genus.
Northern gentian is a California native annual found in the Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, San Bernardino Mountains, and White and Inyo Mountains in wet meadows and bogs at elevations of 1,500 to 3,500 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces blue to rose-violet or white flowers 7 to 15 millimeters long with fringed ovate-triangular lobes. Growing 5 to 80 centimeters tall with an erect stem often branching near the base, it has a distinctive growth pattern with shorter branches above. Its lower leaves are spoon-shaped to elliptic-oblong, crowded and less than 45 millimeters long, while upper cauline leaves are lance-oblong to ovate and smaller than the stem internodes. The flowers are arranged in clusters with pedicels generally less than 2.5 centimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Circumboreal species representing the only California member of this primarily northern hemisphere genus
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet meadows, bogs
Elevation: 1500-3500 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Tulare, Mono, Siskiyou, Butte, Inyo, Trinity, Tehama, Sierra, El Dorado, Placer, Tuolumne, Nevada, Alpine, Plumas, Lassen, Fresno
Outside California: to Alaska, eastern North America, Baja California, eastern Asia
Bloom period
Gentianella amarella subsp. acuta blooms Jul-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Zeltnera: Gentianella has funnel-shaped flowers in terminal clusters; Zeltnera has flat-topped salverform flowers.; vs Centaurium: Gentianella has funnel-shaped flowers in terminal clusters; Centaurium has flat-topped salverform flowers.; vs Gentianopsis: Gentianella flowers are small (under 20mm) without fringed petal edges; Gentianopsis are large (20-55mm) with fringed edges.; vs Comastoma: Gentianella has flowers in clusters with parts in fives; Comastoma has solitary flowers with parts in fours.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gentianella amarella subsp. acuta native to California?
Yes. Gentianella amarella subsp. acuta is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Gentianella amarella subsp. acuta bloom?
Gentianella amarella subsp. acuta blooms Jul-Sep.
Where in California does Gentianella amarella subsp. acuta grow?
Gentianella amarella subsp. acuta occurs in San Bernardino, Tulare, Mono, Siskiyou, Butte, Inyo, Trinity, Tehama and other counties, at elevations of 1500-3500 m.
What plant family does Gentianella amarella subsp. acuta belong to?
Gentianella amarella subsp. acuta is in the Gentianaceae family, genus Gentianella.
What habitat does Gentianella amarella subsp. acuta grow in?
Gentianella amarella subsp. acuta grows in Wet meadows, bogs.
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.