Halenia deflexa (Spurred Gentian) - photos and description



15 cm ruler

 

 

General: Member of the Gentian family, this plant is easily recognizable because of its four-spurred flowers. Its an annual, glabrous, and has square stems.

Flowers: Flowers are generally greenish, with the spurs of the flowers usually having some purple colouring. Flowers in terminal clusters and axils of upper leaves. Flowers to 1 cm in length.

Leaves: Leaves are opposite, sessile, ovate, we measured a large leaf at 43 mm long and 25 mm wide.

Height: Height is listed in Budd's Flora to 50 cm, we measured plants to 35 cm tall.

Habitat: Edges of moist forest, and wet, forest road ditches in the parklands and boreal forest.

Abundance: Common.

Origin: Native.

When and where photographed: The above photos were taken July 1st, along a forest road, near Hudson Bay 400 km north east of Regina, and July 5th in heavy mixed forest in Duck Mountain Provincial Park, 300 km north east of our home in Regina, SK.