Hikers’ or one-flowered gentian

Gentiana simplex A. Gray in War Department [U.S.], Pacif. Railr. Rep. 6(3): 87, plate 16. 1857; Gentianella simplex (A. Gray) J. M. Gillett

Herbs with individual stems biennial, but perennating with stems arising from buds on spreading roots, forming clonal colonies, 0.4–4 dm. Stems unbranched. Leaves: basal usually withered by flowering, blades spatulate, 0.5–1.5 cm × 1–6 mm, apex rounded to obtuse; cauline blades elliptic to ovate or lanceolate, 5–22 cm × 1–7 mm, apex obtuse to acute. Peduncles 1.3–5(–11) cm. Flowers 1 per plant; calyx 9–27 mm, keels smooth, all lobes lanceolate, apices acute to short-acuminate; corolla deep blue, (16–)28–35(–45) mm, lobes oblong, (5–)9–15(–22) × 3–6 mm, margins proximally entire to erose or with few fringes to 1.5 mm, distally shallowly erose to prominently dentate, apex rounded to obtuse; ovary distinctly stipitate. Seeds striato-reticulate, winged, especially at ends.

Flowering late summer–fall. Wet mountain meadows, bogs; 1200–3400 m; Calif., Idaho, Mont., Nev., Oreg.

Reports of Gentianopsis simplex from Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, have been based on small plants of G. thermalis. When plants from localities outside the range given above are thought to be G. simplex, attempts should be made to obtain seeds, as the seed coats of this species are distinctively different from those of all other North American Gentianopsis.

Gentianopsis simplex forms clonal patches as new flowering stems develop from root buds. In contrast to those of G. barbellata, these stems are determinate and biennial, with terminal flowers (P. A. Groff 1989). Consequently, if the underground parts are not seen, the plants appear to be monocarpic.

Gentianopsis simplex has relatively strongly petaloid, crisped stigma margins.