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GENTIAN
Gentian is the common name for any of some 350 species of mostly perennial herbs of the genus Gentiana in the gentian family, Gentianaceae. Gentians are found throughout the world except in Africa and occur chiefly in cool temperate or mountainous regions. In the Alps they grow in large masses, with conspicuous flowers. Species range in height from about 10 cm (4 in) to more than 3.5 m (12 ft). The tubular white, yellow, blue, or purple flowers occur singly or in small clusters. They show an increasingly specialized adaptation to different types of insects. The simpler forms are rather open, with their nectar readily accessible to short-tongued insects. Intermediate forms are longer, and their nectar is taken by certain kinds of bees. The most advanced forms have deeply tubular flowers whose nectar is obtainable only by long-tongued butterflies. Gentian roots contain bitter glucosides that have been used medicinally.
