Flower · GBIF taxon 3170096
Bottle Gentian
Gentiana clausaAlso known as Closed Gentian, Blind Gentian
Bottle gentians produce rich sapphire or violet blossoms that famously never open, remaining tightly closed buds throughout peak bloom. Only muscular bumblebees possess the physical strength to pry apart the corolla lobes, squeezing entirely inside to harvest nectar and deposit pollen. These sturdy late-season perennials brighten damp Appalachian meadows and forest edges just as most other wildflowers fade into autumn.
Late BloomingWildflowerAppalachian Native
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (photosynthesis)
Predators
- White-tailed Deer
- Small Herbivorous Mammals
ThreatsWetland drainage, canopy closure, invasive plant competition, and deer browsing
HabitatsMoist mountain meadows, damp thickets, streambanks, and rich woodland borders
Life spanPerennial (many years via persistent rootstock)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderGentianales
- FamilyGentianaceae
- GenusGentiana
- SpeciesGentiana clausa
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.
Responsible observation
- Pollinator Watching: Watch closely on warm autumn days to see bumblebees squeeze entirely inside closed blooms.
- Photography: Diffused light on overcast mornings best captures the deep, saturated blues of the petals.
- Plant Preservation: Leave wild plants undisturbed, as they rely on seed set and do not transplant well.
Pollinator USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab from Beltsville, Maryland, USA / Public domain · cc0
Frequent Companion (c) Desiree L. Narango, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Jared Shorma, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) aarongunnar, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by aarongunnar · cc-by
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