Gentiana leucomelaena Maxim.

The widespread Gentiana leucomelaena is similar to the much more narrowly distributed G. aperta. Although T. N. Ho treats them as distinct species, J. S. Pringle considers G. leucomelaena as a sy-nonym of G. aperta.

Annuals 2-10 cm tall. Stems prostrate to ascending, branched from base, glabrous. Basal leaves withered at anthesis; petiole 1-2 mm; leaf blade ovate-elliptic to ovate-orbicular, 5-8 × 2-3 mm, margin indistinctly membranous, apex obtuse to rounded; veins 1-3, indistinct. Stem leaves 3-5 pairs; petiole tube 1.5-3 mm; leaf blade lanceolate to elliptic, rarely basally spatulate to ovate, 3-9 × 0.7-2 mm, usually shorter than internodes, margin narrowly and indistinctly membranous, apex acuminate to obtuse, midvein abaxially distinct. Flowers few. Pedicel 0.4-4 cm, glabrous. Calyx campanulate, 4-5 mm; lobes triangular, 1.5-2 mm, margin narrowly membranous, apex acute, midvein indistinct. Corolla pale blue, rarely white, with blue-gray stripes, with dark blue spots in throat, campanulate, 0.8-1.3 cm; lobes ovate, 2.5-3 mm, margin entire, apex obtuse; plicae oblong, 1.2-1.5 mm, margin irregularly laciniate, apex obtuse. Stamens inserted at basal part of corolla tube, equal; filaments 2.5-3.5 mm; anthers ellipsoid, 0.7-1 mm. Style 0.5-0.7 mm; stigma lobes oblong. Capsules obovoid, 3.5-5 mm; gynophore to 2 cm, stout. Seeds broadly dark brown, ellipsoid, 0.6-0.8 mm. Fl. and fr. May-Oct.

Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Xizang [Kashmir, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, N Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Sikkim, Tajikistan]

Along streams, bog meadows, meadows, alpine meadows, scrub; 1900-5000 m.

Gentiana humilis Steven var. evolutior C. B. Clarke; G. leucomelaena var. alba Kusnezow; G. leucomelaena var. pusilla Krylov.