| Gentiana verna | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Gentianaceae |
| Genus: | Gentiana |
| Species: | G. verna
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| Binomial name | |
| Gentiana verna | |
Gentiana verna, the spring gentian, is a species of flowering plant in the family Gentianaceae, and one of its smallest members, normally only growing to a height of a few centimetres.
The short stem supports up to three opposing pairs of elliptical or lanceolate leaves. The conspicuous vivid blue (sometimes purplish-red or rarely white)[1] flowers are 1–2 cm in diameter, with a deeply five-lobed corolla; they are produced in late spring to early summer.[1] The flowers attract butterflies and bees (particularly bumblebees) for pollination. Ants are responsible for the spreading of its seeds.
- ^ a b Pardoe, H. S. (1995). Mountain Plants of the British Isles. National Museum of Wales. p. 24. ISBN 978-0-7200-0423-6.