Gentianopsis holopetala
Sierra gentian, Sierra Gentian
(c) Tom Hilton, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tom Hilton · licence
Family: Gentianaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Gentianopsis holopetala (Sierra gentian) is a native California herb in the Gentianaceae family, recognized by No sympatric species; geographically isolated in c&s SNH, W&I.
Sierra gentian is a California native annual found in central and western Sierra Nevada and White and Inyo Mountains in wet meadows at elevations of 1,800 to 4,000 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces delicate flowers 20 to 55 millimeters long with pale blossoms. Growing with stems that range from partially decumbent to erect and reaching 3 to 45 centimeters tall, it has a delicate branching structure. Its leaves are distinctive, with lower basal leaves spoon-shaped and up to 70 millimeters long, while upper stem leaves become progressively narrower and lance-elliptic to linear in shape. The plant's unique flower structure features a calyx 14 to 36 millimeters long, creating an elegant profile in high-elevation mountain meadows.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: No sympatric species; geographically isolated in c&s SNH, W&I
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet meadows
Elevation: 1800-4000 m
California counties: Inyo, Fresno, Tulare, Mono, Tuolumne, Madera, Mariposa, Plumas, El Dorado
Outside California: western Nevada
Bloom period
Gentianopsis holopetala blooms Jul-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Gentiana: Gentianopsis petals have fringed or jagged edges; Gentiana petals are smooth-edged.; vs Brodiaea: Gentianopsis has opposite leaves and grows in wet meadows; Brodiaea has basal grasslike leaves from a corm.; vs Zeltnera: Gentianopsis has large funnel-shaped flowers; Zeltnera has small flat-topped salverform flowers.; vs Centaurium: Gentianopsis has large funnel-shaped flowers; Centaurium has small flat-topped salverform flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gentianopsis holopetala native to California?
Yes. Gentianopsis holopetala is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Gentianopsis holopetala bloom?
Gentianopsis holopetala blooms Jul-Sep.
Where in California does Gentianopsis holopetala grow?
Gentianopsis holopetala occurs in Inyo, Fresno, Tulare, Mono, Tuolumne, Madera, Mariposa, Plumas and other counties, at elevations of 1800-4000 m.
What plant family does Gentianopsis holopetala belong to?
Gentianopsis holopetala is in the Gentianaceae family, genus Gentianopsis.
What habitat does Gentianopsis holopetala grow in?
Gentianopsis holopetala grows in Wet meadows.
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.