Gentianella patula (Kirk) Holub

Plants monocarpic and biennial, or polycarpic, height in flower (60–)110–290(–370) mm. Root 2.7–6.3 mm diam. at stem base. Caudex unbranched or branched, 25–70 mm long; stolons absent. Flowering stems terminal and lateral, 1–36 per plant, largest flowering stem 1.1–2.4(–3.6) mm diam. at base, 1.6–3.6 mm diam. when dry, tinted crimson to purple-black, lateral flowering stems decumbent or erect, flowering stem leaves 3–4(–5) pairs per stem, lowest pedicels from near apex of flowering stem. Rosette of leaves distinct from flowering stem leaves, leaves elliptic, (18–)26–44 mm long, 3.5–9.0 mm wide, green, flat or V-shaped, recurved or not; leaf apex acute; petiole distinct, 10–29 mm long, 1.5–2.5 mm wide at leaf base. Flowering stem leaves ovate, apex acute, base clasping, V-shaped strongly. Pedicels 1 or 2 per leaf axil, 9–35 mm long, 0.8–1.0 mm diam., 0.5–0.6 mm diam. when dry. Flowers (3–)40–86(–126) per plant, 10–15 mm long. Calyx 5.1–8.5 mm long, green or green tinted purple-black, hairs at calyx–corolla fusion line present; lobes 3.4–6.0 mm long, 1.8–2.3(–2.6) mm wide at base, plane, apices acute, margins smooth, sinus hairs sparse. Corolla 5.9–15(–16) mm long, white or tinted pink or purple, veins uncoloured or purple; tube 3.0–3.5 mm long; lobes 9.0–11.4 mm long, 5.5–8.0 mm wide, hairs below sinus present; nectary 0.3–0.8 mm from corolla base. Filaments 4.5–8.8 mm long from corolla base, 0.7–1.0 mm wide. Anthers 1.7–2.4 mm long, anther wall blueblack, mouth yellow or orange-red, extrorse at anthesis or horizontal at anthesis. Stigma colourless or grey-violet. Ovules 24–44 per ovary. Capsule 12–15 mm long. FL (Dec–)Jan–Mar(–May).

[Reproduced from Glenny (2004, New Zealand J. Bot. 42: 361-530) with permission from The Royal Society of New Zealand.]