Kern frasera

Swertia tubulosa (Coville) Jepson

Herbs perennial, (0.6–)2–11 dm, glabrous. Stems generally 1, with 0–few rosettes. Leaf blades white-margined; basal oblan­ceolate, 2–9 × 0.3–1(–1.5) cm, apex abruptly pointed; cauline leaves whorled, distal blades linear-oblong. Inflores­cences elongate, dense, branching near base of main stem, nearly continuous distally. Flowers: calyx 6–11 mm; corolla white to pale blue, veins darker, campanulate, 8–13 mm, lobes elliptic-oblong to obovate, apex short-acuminate; androecial corona scales narrowly oblong, 2–3 mm, margins fringed; style slender, distinct; nec­taries and foveae 1 per corolla lobe, foveae round at base, opening directly adaxial to nectary, without a differentiated area on the corolla surface, rim prolonged into an appendage ca. 3 mm, proximally tubular, divid­ing distally into 2 oblong, fringed lobes.

Flowering summer. Open pine woods; 1800–2700 m; Calif.

Frasera tubulosa is endemic to Inyo and Tulare counties.