Gentiana acaulis, the stemless gentian, or trumpet gentian, is a species of flowering plant in the family Gentianaceae, native to central and southern Europe, from Spain east to the Balkans, growing especially in mountainous regions, such as the Alps and Pyrenees, at heights of .
Description
It is a perennial plant, growing up to a height of tall and forming a mat up to wide.
Etymology
The Latin specific epithet acaulis means "short-stemmed".
Taxonomy
The closely related Gentiana clusii, often called by the same common name as this species, differs in its preference for limy (alkaline) soils. It also has shorter leaves and the flowers have no olive-green stripes.
Phylogeny
Phylogenetic research suggests G. acaulis is sister to a clade containing 4 other Gentiana species: G. verna, G. bavarica, G. nivalis, and G. utriculosa.
Culture
A depiction of a gentian flower can be seen on the obverse side of Austrian € 0.01 euro coins.
Images
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