Gentianella montana subsp. ionostigma Glenny

Plants monocarpic and biennial, height in flower (45–)80–270(–310) mm. Caudex unbranched, 15–100 mm long, stolons absent or rarely present. Root 0.8–2.2 mm diam. at stem base. Flowering stems usually terminal only, sometimes terminal and lateral, 2–6 stems per plant, largest flowering stem 1.9–3.1 mm diam. at base, 1.4–2.8(– 4.3) mm diam. when dry, stems tinted crimson or tinted purple-black, lateral flowering stems erect or decumbent, flowering stem leaves 2–5 pairs per stem, lowest pedicels from near base of flowering stem to near apex of flowering stem. Rosette of leaves distinct from flowering stem leaves to indistinct, leaves elliptic or ovate, 13–38(–55) mm long, 4.1–12(–17) mm wide, tinted crimson or purpleblack below, apex acute to rounded, leaf flat with a V-shaped petiole, V-shaped or channelled; petiole indistinct to distinct, 6.4–15.3 mm long, 1.2–3.0 mm wide at narrowest point. Pedicels 1 per leaf axil, rarely two, 8–35 mm long, 0.8–1.4 mm diam., 0.5–0.8 mm diam. when dry. Flowers 4–35(–55) per plant, 11.5–20 mm long. Calyx 6.6–11.9 mm long, green tinted purple-black at the lobe apices; lobes 4.6–9.2 mm long, 1.9–3.0 mm wide at base, plane, apices acute, margins smooth, sinus hairs sparse or absent. Corolla 11.0–19.3 mm long, white, veins purple or violet; tube 2.3–4.6 mm long; lobes 8.5–15.3 mm long, 5.4–8.5 mm wide, hairs below sinus present; nectary 0.4–1.2 mm from corolla base. Filaments 7.4–9.8 mm long from corolla base, 0.7–1.0 mm wide. Anthers 1.8–2.9 mm long. Stigma blue, blue-grey, or violet. Ovules 44–88 per ovary. Capsule 17–22(–25) mm long. FL Jan–Feb.

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