The Gentian Family
What are they?
The gentian family contains many species with spectacular pink, blue, yellow or white flowers. Many species have specific habitat requirements and disappear if the habitat is adversely affected. Most are low to medium herbaceous perennials.
Where are they found?
These are mostly plants of coastal wetlands and damp dunes, including salty habitats. Bartonias are woodland species.
Identification
Marsh-pink species can look superficially similar but differ in their leaves and sepals (the green parts at the base of the flower). Marsh-pink species may occasionally have flowers with four or six petals.
Lesser Centaury Centaurium pulchellum
(Branched Centaury) An introduced species from Europe. Occasionally found in damp hollows in sandy ground in fields, dunes and waste areas. Flowers July to September.
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Lance-leaved Marsh-pink Sabatia difformis
A pine barren species, found very locally along streams in permanent wet bogs and swamps. Flowers July to August. Unusual for a marsh-pink in having white flowers.
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Rose-pink Sabatia angularis
An uncommon species of undisturbed fields and other open areas. Flowers July to August. Leaves are broadly rounded and clasp the stem.
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Common Marsh-pink Sabatia stellaris
The commonest marsh-pink in Cape May, being found on coastal brackish and saltwater marshes. Flowers July to September. Note the long, narrow, parallel-sided sepals.
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Soapwort Gentian Gentiana saponaria
A rare species of wet, sandy hollows. Flowers September to October. The bright blue, sometimes purplish-tinged flowers remain largely closed, with just a small opening appearing at the top. Leaves relatively broad.
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Pine-barren Gentian Gentiana autumnalis
A very rare species of wet, grassy places. Flowers September to October. The startlingly intense blue flowers are readily recognized but this species continues to decline in the Cape May area and may be lost from the County soon. Leaves narrow, glossy and grass-like.
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Branched Bartonia Bartonia paniculata
(Twining Screwstem) Found in a wide range of damp soils in woodland and the edges of swampy ground. Widespread but a small, spindly species which is easily overlooked, even when in flower. Flowers July to September. Leaves are reduced to mere scales on the stem, making the plant appear leafless. Flower head often (though not always) more branched than in Yellow Bartonia and upper stem leaves are alternate, not opposite.
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Yellow Bartonia Bartonia virginica
(Yellow Screwstem) Found in a wide range of damp soils in woodland and the edges of swampy ground. Widespread but a small, spindly species which is easily overlooked, even when in flower. Flowers July to September. Leaves are reduced to mere scales on the stem, making the plant appear leafless.
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