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Glaucous Gentian - Gentiana glauca

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Species of Concern
Native Species

Global Rank: G5
State Rank: S1
(see State Rank Reason below)
State Threat Score: Unknown
CCVI: Extremely Vulnerable
C-value:


Agency Status
USFWS:
USFS:
BLM:


 





State Rank Reason (see State Rank above)
DRAFT: Requesting feedback on the 2026 revised rank, factors, and State Rank Reason outlined below and in the Conservation Status Rank Report. Gentiana glauca is extremely rare in Montana, being known from only one population in Glacier National Park. Population size and trends have not been documented. The populations occur adjacent to and in the vicinity of a popular hiking trail, so impacts from trampling are possible though are not currently known to be occurring. The species is also rated as "Extremely Vulnerable" to climate change in a CCVI analysis. Surveys are needed to document the size and extent of the known population. Monitoring is needed to be able to determine population trends. Additional surveys of potentially suitable habitat within GNP may locate other occurrences.
Glaucous Gentian (Gentiana glauca) Conservation Status Summary
State Rank: S1
Review Date = 03/09/2026
See the complete Conservation Status Rank Report
How we calculate Conservation Status Ranks
 
General Description
Glaucous Gentian is a glabrous, perennial herb. Its stems are 3-10 cm high and arise from rosettes that arise from creeping rhizomes. The fleshy rosette leaves are egg-shaped and 1-2 cm long, while stem leaves of fertile rosettes are opposite and smaller. 3-5 crowded, short-stalked flowers arise from the axils of the upper leaves, or bracts. The tubular, blue corollas are 1-2 cm long and have 5 erect lobes with unfringed plaits between the lobes on the insides. The 5-lobed calyx is ca. 4-7 mm long, and the 5 stamens are attached to the inside of the corolla tube. The fruit is a stalked, short, tubular, many-seeded capsule.

Phenology
Flowering in late July-early August.

Diagnostic Characteristics
Gentiana prostrata has creeping stems but bears only one flower per stem. Gentiana calycosa has flowers greater than 2 cm long. Gentianella propinqua has a slender taproot.

Species Range
Montana Range Range Descriptions

Native
 


Range Comments
AK south to WA and nw. MT. Peripheral.

Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database
Number of Observations: 3

(Click on the following maps and charts to see full sized version) Map Help and Descriptions
Relative Density

Recency

 

(Observations spanning multiple months or years are excluded from time charts)



Habitat
Wet, boggy tundra in the alpine zone.
Predicted Suitable Habitat Model

This species has a Predicted Suitable Habitat Model available.

To learn how these Models were created see here

National Vegetation Classification System Groups Associated with this Species
Alpine
Alpine - Vegetated
Alpine Turf and Fellfield PHOC
Wetland and Riparian
Alpine Riparian and Wetland
Alpine - Subalpine Herbaceous and Dwarf-Shrub Riparian and Wetland PHOC HGCN
Wet Meadow and Marsh
Montane Wet Meadow and Marsh HGCN

Ecology
POLLINATORS
The following animal species have been reported as pollinators of this plant species or its genus where their geographic ranges overlap: Bombus appositus, Bombus fervidus, Bombus flavifrons, Bombus sylvicola, Bombus pensylvanicus, and Bombus kirbiellus (Colla and Dumesh 2010, Pyke et al. 2012, Williams et al. 2014, Ogilvie and Thomson 2015).


References
  • Literature Cited AboveLegend:   View Online Publication
    • Colla, S.R. and S. Dumesh. 2010. The bumble bees of southern Ontario: notes on natural history and distribution. Journal of the Entomological Society of Ontario 141:39-68.
    • Ogilvie, J.E. and J.D. Thomson. 2015. Male bumble bees are important pollinators of a late-blooming plant. Arthropod-Plant Interactions 9:205-213.
    • Pyke, G.H., D.W. Inouye, and J.D. Thomson. 2012. Local geographic distributions of bumble bees near Crested Butte, Colorado: competition and community structure revisited. Environmental Entomology 41(6): 1332-1349.
    • Williams, P., R. Thorp, L. Richardson, and S. Colla. 2014. Bumble Bees of North America. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. 208 p.
  • Additional ReferencesLegend:   View Online Publication
    Do you know of a citation we're missing?
    • Iltis, H.H. 1965. The genus Gentianopsis (Gentianaceae): transfers and phytogeographic comments. Sida 2:129-153.
    • Lesica, P., M.T. Lavin, and P.F. Stickney. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. Fort Worth, TX: BRIT Press. viii + 771 p.
    • Lesica, P., M.T. Lavin, and P.F. Stickney. 2022. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants, Second Edition. Fort Worth, TX: BRIT Press. viii + 779 p.
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Citation for data on this website:
Glaucous Gentian — Gentiana glauca.  Montana Field Guide.  .  Retrieved on , from