Sierra or tufted gentian

Gentiana serrata Gunnerus var. holopetala A. Gray in W. H. Brewer et al., Bot. California 1: 481. 1876; G. holopetala (A. Gray) Holm; Gentianella detonsa (Rottbøll) G. Don subsp. holopetala (A. Gray) J. M. Gillett

Herbs annual, 0.3–3(–4.5) dm. Stems simple or those of larger plants with branches or peduncles arising from base. Leaves: basal persistent, blades spatulate to oblance­olate, 2–10 cm × 3–15 mm, apex rounded to acute; cauline blades lanceolate-elliptic to linear, 1.5–6 cm × 3–10 mm, apex acute. Peduncles 2–22 cm, generally much exceeding stem. Flowers solitary; calyx 14–36 mm, keels smooth, all or at least inner lobes less than 1.5 times as long as tube, outer lobe lanceolate to narrowly ovate, apices acute to acuminate, inner lobes lanceolate to ovate, apices acute to acuminate; corolla deep blue, 20–55 mm, lobes ovate, 8–15 × 3–9 mm, margins entire or distally erose-undulate, apex obtuse to subacute; ovary long-stipitate. Seeds papillate, not winged. 2n = 78.

Flowering summer–fall. Wet subalpine meadows; 1800–4000 m; Calif., Nev.

Gentianopsis holopetala is endemic to the central and southern High Sierra Nevada and San Bernardino Mountains in California and the Inyo and White mountains of California and adjacent Nevada.

Gentianopsis holopetala has been said to comprise two cryptic species, in that the populations in the Inyo and White mountains differ genetically from those in the Sierra Nevada to an extent not paralleled in their morphology (B. A. Whitlock, pers. comm.). Misidenti­fications of G. barbellata or G. simplex as G. holopetala appear to have been the basis for state­ments that this species perennates by means of shoots arising from the roots.

Gentianopsis holopetala and G. simplex have often been confused. The calyx of G. simplex is completely green or sometimes slightly suffused with purple, without the sharp purple outlining of the midribs that is common in both G. holopetala and G. thermalis. The peduncles of G. holopetala are usually more than 2.5 times as long as the subtending internodes, regardless of plant size, whereas those of G. simplex, the only other Gentianopsis species in California, are usually less than 2.5 times as long. The anthers of G. holopetala are 2.2–3.7 mm, and those of G. simplex are 1–1.5 mm (N. H. Holmgren 1984b). When seeds are available, the differences in their morphology also distinguish small plants of G. holopetala from G. simplex. The corolla lobes of G. barbellata are usually more than 2 times as long as wide, and those of G. holopetala are usually less than or about 2 times as long as wide, although both species are somewhat variable in this respect.