Flower ID: IMG_8813.JPG-08-22-2021 Flower name (scientific): Gentiana alba Muhlenberg ex J. McNab PY: 1835. The name Gentiana flavida A. Gray is also in use. The U.S. National Plant Germplasm System regards Gentiana alba as an illegitimate, superfluous name (Shenzhen ICN 52) for Gentiana flavida A. Gray. See (Wilbur, 1988) for a discussion on why Gentiana flavida A. Gray should be treated as the correct scientific name. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) jen-shee-AN-uh AL-ba Flower name (common): Cream Gentian Family name (common): Gentian Family name (scientific): Gentianaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: Named for King Gentius, who ruled Illyria from 181 to 168 BCE. He may have discovered the tonic properties of the bitter roots of the related species Gentiana lutea. Specific epithet: Albi is Latin for white, and for the other specific epithet, from flavi, Latin for yellowish. Common name origin: From the pale whitish-yellow color of the flowers. Gentian is from Latin and French and initally used for a species in the genus Gentiana having medicinal properties and employed as a flavoring agent. Now used more broadly for various members of Gentiana. Flower description: Size: 1.2 to 2.0 inches (3.0 to 5.1 cm) Petal count: 5 Color: white Other: flower arrangement, Cluster-spherical Plant description: Size: 24 to 36 inches (61 to 91 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is opposite, type is simple Size: Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, broadly lanceolate, ovate, or cordate (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Uncommon Bloom time (typical): August to September Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Woods, prairies, meadows, sun or semi-shade, moist. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Gentiana andrewsii (Bottle Gentian), which typically has blue flowers, can look similar when it has whitish-colored flowers. The flowers of Gentiana andrewsii are more closed than those of Gentiana alba. Ethnobotany: The Potawatomi used the plant to prepare a tea that was used as an alterative (Smith, p. 55, 1933). Latitude: Longitude: Altitude: Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Brown, Chippewa, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Outagamie, Pierce, Polk, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sheboygan, Vernon, Walworth, Waukesha) Click here for distribution map In US: (AR, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, OH, OK, PA, WI, WV) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (MB, ON) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Gentiana alba Muhl. ex A. Gray, Gentiana alba Muhl., Gentiana alba Muhl. ex Nutt. Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): FACU Wetland Status (MW): FACU