Gentiana pannonica, the Hungarian gentian (Template:Lang-de, Pannonischer Enzian, Ungarischer Enzian or Ungarn-Enzian[1]), is a species of flowering plant of the genus Gentiana in the family of Gentianaceae.
| Hungarian gentian | |
|---|---|
| |
| Hungarian gentian (Gentiana pannonica) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Gentianaceae |
| Genus: | Gentiana |
| Species: | G. pannonica
|
| Binomial name | |
| Gentiana pannonica | |
Description
Vegetative features
The Hungarian gentian is a perenniel, herbaceous plant, which grows to a height of 20 to 60 centimetres. All the above-ground parts of the plant are hairless. Its stem is upright and strong.
The five to seven-veined leaves are arranged crosswise. The lower leaves have a stalk and are elliptical in shape; the upper ones are stalkless and point-lanceolate.
Generative features
The Hungarian gentian flowers from July to September. Its flowers are located in the upper leaf axils or grouped at the end of the stem.
The hermaphroditic flowers are radially symmetrical with double perianths. The green sepals are fused. The calyx is bell-shaped and has five to eight outward curving teeth. The bell-shaped crown is 25 to 50 millimetres long. It is wider at the top and, towards the middle, has five to nine elements. The Kronzipfel is egg-shaped. On its outer side the petals are red and violet with black and red spots, the inside is usually yellowish.
Its chromosome count is 2n = 40.[2]
Confusion
The Hungarian gentian is very similar to the purple gentian (Gentiana purpurea).
Distribution
The Hungarian gentian is found in the Eastern Alps, Bergamasque Alps, Carpathians and Transylvania. The western boundary of the gentian (Allgäu, eastern Switzerland) is coincident with the eastern boundary of the purple gentian.
The Hungarian gentian thrives best on calcareous soil, but also on soils poor in calcium. It occurs in Central Europe in perennial meadows and cirques, bogs and mountain pine bush. The Hungarian gentian is a characteristic species of the Nardion community, but also occurs in plant communities of the sub-group rhododendro-vaccinienion.[2]
In Austria the Hungarian gentian is scattered to moderately common (e.g. on the Krippenstein/Dachstein). It does not occur in Vienna or the Burgenland. In Germany it occurs in the alms of the Bavarian Forest.
Taxonomy
The first publication of Gentiana pannonica was by Giovanni Antonio Scopoli. The species epithet pannonica derives from the Roman province of Pannonia. Synonyms for Gentiana pannonica SCOP. are: Gentiana semifida HOFFMANSS. EX RCHB. and Coilantha pannonica G.DON.
References
- ^ Gentiana pannonica Scop., Ungarn-Enzian. In: FloraWeb.de.
- ^ a b
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Literature
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External links
- Gentiana pannonica. In: BiolFlor, the Datenbank biologisch-ökologischer Merkmale der Flora von Deutschland. (Database of Biological-Ecological Features of the Flora of Germany)
- Thomas Meyer: Gentian data sheet with identification key and photographs at Flora-de: Flora von Deutschland (old name of the website: Blumen in Schwaben).