About Gentianella corymbifera (Kirk) Holub
Gentianella corymbifera (Kirk) Holub is a small biennial herb that produces clusters of white or pink flowers. Flowering occurs between December and March. It can be distinguished from other species in the Gentianella genus by its short terminal flower stem, its large number of flowers (recorded counts reach up to 110 flowers per individual), and its rosette leaves, which are typically broad, thick, and V-shaped. This species occurs on the South Island of New Zealand. It is most common in the northern South Island and areas east of the island’s central mountain range, and is rarer in the southern South Island region of Otago. It grows in montane to alpine habitats, including tussock grassland and fluvial washes. In its ecosystem, the flowers of Gentianella corymbifera are generally not eaten by livestock. Its leaves are consumed by native grasshoppers, and its flowers are visited by insects including solitary bees (such as Hylaeus matamoko), flies, and butterflies.
