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Photographer: Kitty Kohout
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Family Gentianaceae
Gentiana puberulenta J.S.Pringle
downy gentian, prairie gentian
Gentiana: named after Gentius, King of Illyria, who around 500 B.C. found the roots of the herb yellow gentian or bitterwort to have a healing effect on his malaria-stricken troops
puberulenta: with tiny hairs
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| Status: | Native |
| Plant: | erect, perennial, 8"-20" tall forb, minutely hairy, usually unbranched |
| Flower: | blue but occasionally white with blue markings, 5-parted, 1 1/4"-2 1/3" wide, top widely open, folds between the petals; inflorescence a cluster, those from the top are stalked, those from the leaf axils usually stalkless; blooms Aug.-Oct. |
| Leaf: | mostly stalkless, usually widest below the middle, opposite, slightly hairy |
| Habitat: | dry; prairies, woods; in limy, sandy soil |
| (Glossary) |
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