About Gentianopsis crinita (Froel.) Ma
Gentianopsis crinita, sometimes known as greater fringed gentian or blue gentian, is a biennial herbaceous species native to eastern USA and eastern Canada. The flowers of this fringed gentian open on sunny days, and generally stay closed on cloudy days. Individual plants live only one or two years, and the species has become relatively rare. It grows in moist, lime-containing woods, meadows, and stream banks. In autumn, solitary iridescent blue flowers grow on bare stalks called peduncles, which are approximately 2 to 10 cm (3⁄4 to 4 inches) tall. Each finely fringed petal measures 3.5 to 6 cm (1+3⁄8 to 2+3⁄8 inches) in length. The outermost parts of the flower consist of two pairs of green sepals that are strongly winged and flared at their basal margins; the outer pair of sepals is much larger than the inner pair. It is closely related to Gentianopsis virgata (Raf.) Holub, which is sometimes grouped into a broadly defined G. crinita. According to the ancient Roman naturalist Pliny, King Gentius of Illyria discovered the plant's roots were useful as an emetic, cathartic, and tonic. The plant's name is derived from King Gentius.
