Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Gentianella astonii (Petrie) T.N.Ho & S.W.Liu, 23: 61 (1993) subsp. astonii
 Description

Plants 60–150 mm tall, up to 400 mm diam. Caudex 40–240 mm long, 2.6–5.3 mm diam. at stem base when dry. Flowering stems 5–18 per plant, 1.2–1.9 mm diam. when dry, purple-black; stem leaves 3 pairs per stem. Leaves linear, 15.8– 32 mm long, (1.4–)1.5–2.8 mm wide, flat, margins smooth; leaf 1.1–1.5 mm wide at base; apex acute. Pedicels 1.5–22 mm long, 1.2–1.4 mm diam. (0.7– 1.4 mm diam. when dry). Flowers 16–63 per plant, 13.5–24 mm long. Calyx 7.0–10.0 mm long, hairs at calyx–corolla fusion line present; lobes 5.2–6.2 mm long, 1.3–2.3 mm wide at base, green tinted purpleblack, plane, margins smooth or very finely toothed, sinus hairs abundant. Corolla 10.4–17 mm long, white, tube 2.7–4.0 mm long; lobes 7.5–10.8 mm long, 4.0–5.7 mm wide, margins finely serrulate, hairs below sinus present (1–2 per sinus); nectary 1.9–2.9 mm from corolla base, widely V-shaped with a fl ap with an uneven margin (Fig. 6). Filaments 6.0–7.2 mm long from corolla base, 0.7–0.8 mm wide. Anthers 1.7–2.5 mm long, anther wall yellow or blue-black. Ovules 27–30 per ovary. Capsule 8.4–15 mm long. FL Mar–Apr(–May).

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

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Bibliography
Adams, L.G. 1995: Chionogentias (Gentianaceae) a new generic name for the Australasian 'snow-gentians' and a revision of the Australian species. Australian Systematic Botany 8: 935–1011.
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Hitchmough, R.; Townsend, A.J. 2009: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand (2008 revision). New Zealand Journal of Botany 47: 61–96. [Naturally uncommon]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Naturally Uncommon]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Naturally Uncommon]
Glenny, D. 2004: A revision of the genus Gentianella in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42(3): 361–530.
Ho, T.N.; Liu, W. 1993: New combinations, names and taxonomic notes on Gentianella (Gentianaceae) from South America and New Zealand. Bull. Nat. Hist.Mus.Lond.(Bot.) 23: 61–65.
Petrie, D. 1916: Descriptions of new native phanerogams. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 48: 186–192.