Which gentians & what is the blue one?

[Brita]

Please can someone help me identify the attached wild flowers, please? I haven't a clue what the blue one is (sorry about the blur) but the flowers grown up the stem in a similar way to those on the gentian. The others are gentians, I think, but I don't know which ones. Thanks for your help.

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by Brita

Please can someone help me identify the attached wild flowers, please? I haven't a clue what the blue one is (sorry about the blur) but the flowers grown up the stem in a similar way to those on the gentian. The others are gentians, I think, but I don't know which ones. Thanks for your help.

hi

whereabouts were these - the Gentianella looks like G. germanica - though that is a plant I have yet to see - it is very restricted in its range (hence the name Chiltern Gentian); others who have seen it may have other ideas

the other plant looks like a bellflower . . . . Campanula glomerata perhaps?

best wishes

Chris

[Dorts]

I have to assume you found these plants in the Chilterns.
Pure Chiltern Gentians and Pure Autumn Gentians are quite distinct , the former having larger, brighter purple, bell-shaped flowers with two calyx teeth broader than the other.
The problem is that these two species, where they meet, hybridise very readily. Hybrid swarms, usually infertile, are common, and every intermediate form can be found.

Although all three of your plants may have a very slight Chiltern Gentian look about them, I am unable to see enough of the 'true' Chiltern species to put them further than being Autumn Gentians, or possibly some of the vary variable hybrid, Gentianella x pamplinii.

The other plant is a Clustered Bellflower - Campanula glomerata.
Dorts.

[Brita]

Thanks Chris & Dorts.
The plants were found in the Chilterns, although not on the same nature reserve.
I can see I'll have to keep looking for the Chiltern Gentian.
I did wonder whether the one below could be a field gentian as it only has 4 petals.

[Dorts]

It's not uncommon to find any species of Gentianella with four petals, so unfortunately that is not alone, a reliable guide to a particular species.
Field Gentian is not found in the Chilterns, apart from a few scattered places, it is primarily a plant of
N.W. Scotland.
Dorts.

[Mele]

Lovely plants. I will trot out this week to see if I can find some gentians in the Bedfordshire Chilterns. Anyone know of any good spots to look?
I also checked online to see if autumn ladies tresses (which I see on another thread in Somerset) grows near me but can't find any specific site reports :-( I've seen creeping ladies tresses in Scotland but not seen the autumn ones.
Mel

[Dorts]

Mel, Autumn Lady's-tresses although scattered over much of the country are only really common on the chalk of Central Southern England, particularly Sussex, Hants, Dorset and Wilts..
There are plenty of recent records on the south coast of Kent which I know you are familiar with, where any known orchid sites with short-turf will be worth a look.

Hopfully someone will come forward with precise details for your own area.
Dorts.

[Brita]

I think these must be Chiltern Gentians. They are larger & more purple than the Autumn Gentians & 2 people we spoke to also thought they were Chiltern Gentians. I hope you agree. Comments are welcome.

[Dorts]

I've looked as closely as is possible from your two photo's and suspect your plants are hybrids between Chiltern and Autumn Gentian, Gentianella x pamplinii. This hybrid is common where the two species grow together, often more common than the rare Chiltern Gentian.
The petals are not wide enough, the corrola-tube not long enough and the colour not quite right for a true Chiltern Gentian.
However the sepals appear to be unequal, which hints at this being a hybrid.
Dorts.

[alindsay]

Has anyone got a photo of a true and certified Chiltern Gentian that can be used as a reference.

The photos/drawings in the books are not sufficient.

Thanks in advance.