Gentianopsis virgata explained

Gentianopsis virgata, commonly known as lesser fringed gentian, narrow-leaved fringed gentian, or smaller fringed gentian, is a biennial herbaceous species of plant, native to eastern USA and eastern Canada.^[1]

Taxonomy

Broadly transcribed, Gentianopsis crinita (Froel.) Ma is an eastern North American species complex, containing a group of closely related taxa, including G. virgata. Further species were described in the past, but a lack of difference in nrDNA and morphology does not support their recognition.^[2] Three subspecies are currently recognized:^[3]

• Gentianopsis virgata (Raf.) Holub subsp. virgata
• Gentianopsis virgata subsp. victorinii (Fernald) Lammers
• Gentianopsis virgata subsp. macounii (Holm) J.S. Pringle

Notes and References

1. Web site: USDA PLANTS profile for Gentianopsis virgata, Lesser Fringed Gentian.
2. Pringle, J.S. 2004. Notes on the Distribution and Nomenclature of North American Gentianopsis (Gentianaceae). Sida 21(2): 525-530
3. Brouillet, L., F. Coursol, S.J. Meades, M. Favreau, M. Anions, P. Bélisle & P. Desmet. 2010+. VASCAN, the Database of Vascular Plants of Canada. http://data.canadensys.net/vascan/ (consulted on 2018-01-12)