Gentiana capitata - Clustered Gentian

Clustered Gentian is distinctive among Gentians, in having gree broadly ovate leaves closely clustered under the flower-head, and stem usually leafless below. Flowers are pale blue-purple or white, crowded in a leaves head at the top, 1.3-2 cm or more across. Sepal cup almost as long as the flower-tube, with triangular pointed sepals. Flowers are broadly tubular, 8-11 mm long lobes ovate-orbicular to semiorbicular, 1-1.2 mm, margin entire, apex obtuse to rounded. Lobules are semiorbicular, 0.8-1 mm, margin with 2 or 3 teeth to denticulate, apex rounded. Stamens inserted at basal part of corolla tube, equal; filaments 3-3.5 mm; anthers ellipsoid, 0.8-1 mm. Style 0.5-0.8 mm; stigma lobes oblong. Leaves are about 6 mm, basal leaves soon disappearing. The plant has erect stem, 1.5-10 cm long. Clustered Gentian is found in the Himalayas, from Pakistan to SE Tibet, at altitudes of 1500-4500 m.