Gentiana Flowers
Gentiana Mountain Blue Flowers - Facts And Photos
Name : Gentiana Flowers
Latin Name : Genus: Gentiana, (Gentiana andrewsii)
Gentiana Description
Gentiana is a genus comprising of about 400 species of flowering plants belonging to the Gentian family (Gentianaceae). This genus has a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring in alpine habitats of temperate regions of Asia, Europe, eastern Australia, New Zealand and the Americas. Gentiana varieties are annual, biennial and perennial plants; some may be evergreen as well.
The common name for the Gentiana flower is Gentian while old names include Bitterwort and Felwort.
Gentianas derive their name as a tribute to the Illyrian King Gent who used the flower to heal his wounded soldiers. The best known city in the Illyrian Empire where the Gentiana flower was found is located in the southwest of Montenegro today, called Sac or Shas, in Albanian.
Although mostly found in hues of blue, the Gentiana flower is also available in yellow, red, purple and white.
This enchanting trumpet shaped flower blooms in autumn. Its height varies between 4 inches to 5 feet tall. While many Gentianas are difficult to grow outside their wild habitat, several species are fully hardy in the garden. Gentiana likes full sun or partial shade, and neutral to acid soil that is rich in humus and well drained. While planting gentians keep in mind that they don’t like to be disturbed and need lots of light.
Gentianas are popular in rock gardens and also as cut flowers due to their long vase life. They add depth and bold splashes of colour to a flower arrangement. Usually the taller varieties of Gentiana are used for flower arrangements and are principally the variety Gentiana makinoi from Japan especially "Royal Blue" or Gentiana triflora variety "Japonica".
The two popular varieties of Gentiana are the Closed Gentian (Gentiana andrewsii) and the Fringed Gentian (G. crinita). The Closed Gentian blooms from September to November, and derives its name from the fact that its flowers never open, remaining in large, bud-like form. The flower stalks are about 2 feet tall and purplish blue blossoms are borne in clusters in the axils of the upper leaves. Closed Gentiana are often found growing on damp hillsides and in meadows.
The second variety, Fringed Gentian, is more beautiful and less common. It is the most modest flower of our woods with eye-catching blue blossoms and has a delicate fringe at the margins of the petals, thus the common name Fringed Gentiana. Unlike the Closed Gentian, the Fringed Gentianas are borne singly upon the apex of the stalks.
The Gentianella (Gentiana acaulis) is another variety, bearing large, bell-shaped blue flowers and is commonly called Stemless Gentian of the Alps. This variety grows to about 6 inches in height and blooms in spring. In European garden, this plant is commonly used as an edging plant.
Gentiana Meaning
The beautiful Gentiana has quite a few meanings associated with it. Gentiana generally symbolizes Integrity.
In Victorian flower symbolism Gentiana meant “You Are Unjust”. Whereas in Albanian, the gorgeous Gentiana flower derives its name from Genti meaning "(well)-born."
Gentiana flowers represent different meanings according to the variety presented:
Fringed Gentians signify the meanings Intrinsic Worth, I Look to Heaven, and Autumn.
Closed Gentian portrays the meaning May Your Dreams be Sweet.
Gentiana Mythology
The exquisite Gentiana flower finds its place in legends and fairytales alike. According to a 15th century Christian Hungarian legend, King Ladislaus asked God to help overcome a plague that was rampant in his country. He prayed that his arrow be guided to the plant that holds cure to the deadly disease. It is said that his arrow landed on the root of Gentiana and that once it was administered to the patients it miraculously cured them.
A fairy tale tells the story of the queen of fairies who wandered too late on Halloween night. The fireflies went to bed and the queen felt frightened due to the dark. She asked a Gentiana to let her sleep in its blossom until daylight but it was sleepy and didn’t recognize the queen and told her to sleep in some other flower. Since it was late October and no other flower was in bloom the Queen couldn’t find any flower to spend the night. Finally, a lone Gentiana invited the fairy queen to spend the night. In the morning the queen was so grateful that she kissed the Gentiana blossom and told it that she would make it different from all the others. She thus gave the Fringed Gentian (Gentiana crinita) the power to open in the daytime to absorb the sunlight and close at night to bathe in the dew.
Gentiana roots are also used medicinally to treat weak or under-active digestive systems and also for its anti-inflammatory properties.
Gentians have fascinated many poets and storytellers as well. Emily Dickinson, in her poem, “Fringed Gentian” uses the unique quality of Gentiana’s fruition as a metaphor for individuality.
God made a little Gentian
It tried to be a rose
And failed, and all the summer laughed.
But just before the snows
There came a purple creature
That ravished all the hill;
And summer hid her forehead,
And mockery was still.
The frosts were her condition;
The Tyrian would not come
Until the North evoked it.
Creator! Shall I bloom?
