Showy Gentian Vine is a climbing plant in the Gentian family, found in the Himalayas, from Nepal to Burma, at altitudes of 2400-3300 m. Blue-purple bell-shaped flowers are borne in stalked clusters of 1-3 flowers, in leaf axils. Flowers tube has 5 triangular lobes, spreading ourwards. Sepal cup is 1.5 cm long, with 5 tiny outcurved sepals. Oppositely arranged leaves, 5-8 cm long, are elliptic, long-pointed, shart-stalked, with 3 prominent parallel veins. Leaf margin is irregularly toothed. Capsule is up to 4 cm long, with prominent 2-lobed style. Flowering: September-October.