Fauna
Plant · GBIF taxon 3170091

Pine Barren Gentian

Gentiana autumnalis

Also 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
Pine Barren Gentian reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Vilseskogen, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Vilseskogen · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
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)
Classification
  1. FamilyGentianaceae
  2. SpeciesGentiana autumnalis
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. 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.
Related species
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