Gentianella montana (G.Forst.) Holub var. montana

Plants monocarpic and biennial, or polycarpic (rarely in Southland, usually in Nelson), height in flower (120–)170–570 mm. Caudex 10–90 mm long. Stolons sometimes present. Root 1.2–9 mm diam. at stem base. Flowering stems 1–23 per plant, largest stem 1.7–6.1 mm diam. at base, 1.6–4.1 mm diam. when dry, stem colour green or tinted crimson, lateral flowering stems erect or decumbent, flowering stem leaves 2–5 pairs per stem. Rosette of leaves (23–)37–98 mm long, (6.7–)9.4– 18 mm wide, green or tinted crimson below; petiole 15–45 mm long, 1.6–7.5 mm wide at leaf base. Pedicels 11–38 mm long (elongating to 55 mm), 0.9–2.0 mm diam., 0.5–1.1 mm diam. when dry. Flowers (2–)21–49 per plant, 11–19 mm long, rarely female. Calyx 7.5–11.2 mm long; lobes 5.3–9.6 mm long, 2.1–2.8 mm wide at base, sinus hairs sparse to abundant. Corolla 14.3–17.5 mm long, white, veins uncoloured, rarely purple; tube 2.6–5.0 mm long; lobes 11–16 mm long, 7.0–10.3 mm wide, hairs below sinus absent or present; nectary 0.4– 1.4 mm from corolla base. Filaments 6.9–11.0 mm long from corolla base, 0.7–1.2 mm wide. Anthers 2.0–3.0 mm long, wall blue-black, mouth yellow. Ovules 40–84 per ovary. Capsule 20–26 mm long. FL mid Jan–Mar.

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