Gentiana wingecarribiensis var. wissmannii, commonly known as New England gentian,[1] is a variety of flowering plant in the family Gentianaceae that is endemic to New South Wales, Australia.[2] It is a small, upright annual herb with blue flowers.

Description

G. w. var. wissmannii is an upright, smooth, annual herb, 3–8 cm (1.2–3.1 in) high with simple or with 2-4 short, slender branches. The stem leaves are in pairs of 3-10, sessile, ovate to oblong-ovate, wider toward the stem, 4–10 mm (0.16–0.39 in) long, rough on the margins and sharp or rounded at the apex. The flowers are in clusters of 1-8, bell-shaped, slender, blue inside, greenish externally, tube 6–12 mm (0.24–0.47 in) long, lobes spreading 2–2.5 mm (0.079–0.098 in) long, translucent, jagged or pleated, and pointed or tapering to a point. The 4 or 5 sepals and petals are 8–15 mm (0.31–0.59 in) long, calyx lobes are lance to oblong-egg-shaped, 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long, pointed and faintly veined. Flowering occurs from September to November and the fruit is an egg-shaped capsule 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long.[3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

G. w. var. wissmannii was first formally described as a separate species in 1988 by John Beaumont Williams. The specific epithet (wissmannii) is in honour of Hans Wissmann.[5][6][7] Currently, it is classified as a variety of Gentiana wingecarribiensis.[2]

Distribution and habitat

This variety has a restricted distribution, growing on the edges of swamps near Ebor in New South Wales.

Conservation status

G. w. var. wissmannii is classified as "vulnerable" under the New South Wales Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "Gentiana wissmannii". Species Profile and Threats Database. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Gentiana wingecarribiensis var. wissmannii (J.B.Williams) Halda | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  3. ^ Harden, Gwen. "Gentiana wissmannii". PlantNET-NSW flora online. Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  4. ^ Adams, L.G. "Gentiana wissmannii". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Gentiana wissmannii". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  6. ^ Williams, John (1988). "Gentiana wissmannii". Telopea. 3 (2): 175. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  7. ^ Bruhl, Jeremy (4 September 2018). "Vale Hans Wissmann". University of New England. Retrieved 20 October 2021.