Plant · GBIF taxon 3170091
Pine Barren Gentian
Gentiana autumnalisAlso known as Autumn Gentian
Pine barren gentians illuminate acidic sandy flats and moist savannahs with solitary, electric-blue blossoms that unfurl during bright autumn afternoons. Each upright, trumpet-shaped flower features five spreading petals connected by finely fringed pleats and dotted internally with yellowish-green speckles. Dependent on periodic ground fires to eliminate encroaching woody shrubs, these coastal plain perennials rely on bumblebees to pry open their nectar-rich blooms.
FloweringWildflowerRare
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Photosynthesis (autotroph)
Predators
- White-tailed deer
- Herbivorous insects
ThreatsFire suppression, wetland drainage, development, illegal collection
HabitatsPine barrens, wet sandy flatwoods, coastal plain savannas
Life spanPerennial (multiple years)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyGentianaceae
- SpeciesGentiana autumnalis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Recognize it by slender, wiry stems topped with solitary, wide-flaring blue trumpets blooming in late autumn.
- Support conservation
- Never pick flowers or dig roots, and obscure precise geolocation coordinates when posting findings online.
Responsible observation
- Peak Viewing: Search on warm, sunny autumn days between September and November when blossoms fully open.
- Footwear: Stay on elevated paths or road edges to avoid trampling sensitive bog soil and fragile basal rosettes.
- Photography: Use natural backlighting to highlight the green-speckled inner throat without picking the stem.
Frequent Companion (c) Michael Ellis, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Frequent Companion (c) Aaron Carlson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Jared Shorma, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative no rights reserved · cc0
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