Gentiana praeclara Marquand

Annuals 3-12 cm tall. Stems erect, with laxly spreading branches, densely papillate. Basal leaves withered at anthesis, similar to stem leaves. Stem leaves shorter than internodes; petiole 2-3 mm, densely papillate; leaf blade ovate-lanceolate to ovate, 0.6-2 cm × 2.5-9 mm, larger toward stem apex, margin ciliolate, apex acute, midvein prominent. Flowers terminal, solitary, sessile or subsessile, 4merous. Calyx tubular, 2-2.7 cm; lobes ovate-triangular, 0.9-1.1 cm, margin densely ciliolate, apex acuminate and caudate, midvein strongly keeled and decurrent as conspicuous wings of calyx tube. Corolla blue-purple, with blackish streaks, salverform, 3.5-6 cm; lobes ovate-elliptic, 0.8-1.2 cm, margin entire, apex obtuse; plicae ovate to subtruncate, 1.5-2.5 mm, margin denticulate, apex obtuse to subtruncate. Stamens inserted at middle of corolla tube, unequal, 2 longer and 1.2-1.4 cm, 2 shorter and 8-10 mm; anthers narrowly ellipsoid, 2.5-3 mm. Style filiform, 1.2-1.4 cm, slightly shorter or as long as ovary; stigma lobes narrowly oblong. Capsules narrowly ellipsoid, 1.6-2 cm; gynophore 0.9-1.1 cm, slender. Seeds dark brown, ellipsoid to ovoid, 0.8-1 mm. Fl. and fr. Sep-Oct.

SW Sichuan, NW Yunnan.

* Roadside slopes, meadows, forests; 1500-4200 m.