Gentiana altigena H. Smith

Perennials 3-7 cm tall. Stems numerous, ascending, simple, papillate. Basal rosette leaves few, indistinct; leaf blade triangular, 4-8 × 1.5-2 mm, membranous, apex acute. Stem leaves larger toward apex, uppermost leaves surrounding calyx; petiole membranous, papillate, petiole tube 1.5-2 mm; leaf blade base obtuse, margin ciliolate, apex obtuse, midvein distinct. Lower stem leaves withered at anthesis, elliptic to ovate-orbicular, 3-4.5 × 1.5-2.5 mm; middle to upper leaves lanceolate to elliptic, 6-9 × 1.5-3 mm. Flowers terminal, solitary, sessile. Calyx tube tubular, 4-5 mm, membranous; lobes spreading, lanceolate to elliptic, 4-6 mm, herbaceous, base slightly narrowed, margin ciliolate, apex obtuse, midvein distinct. Corolla blue, with dark blue streaks, usually closed, tubular, 1.5-2 cm; lobes ovate, 3-3.5 mm, margin entire, apex obtuse; plicae ovate, 1-1.2 mm, margin entire, apex obtuse. Stamens inserted at middle of corolla tube; filaments 5-6 mm; anthers narrowly ellipsoid, 1-1.5 mm. Style 1.5-2 mm; stigma lobes linear. Capsules ellipsoid to ovoid-ellipsoid, 5-8 mm; gynophore to 8 mm. Seeds light brown, broadly ellipsoid to subglobose, 0.6-0.8 mm. Fl. and fr. Aug-Oct.

SE Xizang, NW Yunnan [NE India].

Meadow slopes; 3700-4200 m.