Closed Gentian, Gentiana clausa and Gentiana andrewsii, Native Minnesota Wildflower plant, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden, Bottle Gentian

	Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
	Common Name	Scientific Name	Plant Family	Garden Location	Prime Season
	Bottle Gentian	Gentiana clausa Raf. and Gentiana Andrewsii Griseb.	Gentian	Upland	Late summer into Autumn
Other names and notes	(Closed Gentian). A Gentian whose 1 1/4" to 1 3/4" tube shaped blue flowers remain closed at the tip. The lobes have fringes which are hidden by the closed tip. The flowers appear in a cluster at the top of the erect stem and sometimes also in stem clusters at the leaf axils. Leaves are lance shaped and mostly stalkless. It is similar in appearance to the white flowered Plain Gentian except for the flower color. A similar blue species, G. Andrewsii, has the fringes of the flower lobes visible at the tip of the closed flower. Color varies by age of the blooms and amount of sun. The genus Gentiana is named after King Gentius of Illyria who, according to Pliny, discovered that the roots of certain Gentian species have medicinal qualities for treating malaria. The species name clausa is Latin referring to "closed". The name Andrewsii refers to Henry C. Andrews, an English botanical artist of the 1800's.

All blooms are from late August except the lower far right which is late September. Colors darken as the season progresses. Baring an early frost, some will still be found in October.

Notes: Gentiana clausa was listed on Martha Crone's 1951 inventory of plants in the Garden at that time. G. clausa is not native to the state, but rather native to the east coast area. G. andrewsii is native in most counties in Minnesota. Ownbey reports that there are several other similar species found in Minnesota. Eloise Butler planted G. Andrewsii in 1908 with plants from Mound, MN; in 1909 from plants obtained in Mahtomedi, MN; and again in 1910. Martha Crone planted the same species in 1933 and 1936.

Medicinal Lore: All known Gentian species have intensely bitter properties in the root. Over the centuries in Europe and Asia this has led to the development of herbal medicines, particularly from the old world species G. lutea. Gentian bitters are prepared from the dried root in use for general debility, weakness of the digestive system and lack of appetite. An alcoholic drink can even be prepared from the roots as once properly prepared and distilled, the distillate contains alcohol. The American species of gentian, including G. Andrewsii, have similar properties to the European species.

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References: Plant characteristics are generally from sources 15, 16, 30, 31, 33, W2 & W3. Distribution principally from W2 and also 31, 34 and W1. Planting history generally from 1, 4 & 4a. Other sources by specific reference. See Reference List for details.

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