Gentiana acaulis, also known as the stemless gentian, is a species of flowering plant in the family Gentianaceae. It is native to central and southern Europe, from Spain east to the Balkans, growing in mountainous regions such as the
Alps and
Pyrenees. It is a
perennial plant, growing up to a height of 10 centimetres (3.9 in) tall and forming a "mat" up to 50 centimetres (20 in) wide. The leaves are
evergreen, and can be
lanceolate,
elliptical or
obovate. The trumpet-shaped terminal
flowers are blue with olive-green spotted longitudinal throats. A depiction of the
Gentiana acaulis flower can be seen on the obverse side of the one cent
Austrian euro coin.
Photograph: Petar Milošević