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Gentian family🌸
Gentianaceae Juss.
リンドウ科
A family of about 1,700 species distributed mainly in temperate and alpine regions worldwide. In Japan, diverse species of Gentiana, Swertia, Halenia, and others are native. The family contains bitter glycosides (gentianin) and has been historically used as a source of bitter stomachic remedies.
Key Characteristics
- ●Corolla is sympetalous, campanulate to funnelform, 4- to 12-lobed
- ●Stamens alternate with corolla lobes and are equal in number
- ●Leaves are simple, opposite (rarely alternate), and entire
- ●Fruit is a capsule containing numerous minute seeds
- ●Contains bitter glycosides (gentiopicroside, etc.)
Morphological Traits
A family may include species with different trait values — multiple values indicate the range within the family.
Leaf arrangement
Alternate / Opposite / Whorled
Leaf type
Simple
Venation
Pinnate / Palmate
Leaf margin
Entire
Growth form
Shrub / Herb
Evergreen/Deciduous
Deciduous
Leaf dissection
Undivided
Stipules
Absent
Flower symmetry
Actinomorphic / Zygomorphic
Petal count
Many
Petal fusion
Free / Fused
Ovary position
Superior
Stamen count
3-4 / 5
Plant sex
Hermaphrodite / Monoecious
Phylogenetic Position
Angiosperms > Eudicots > Core Eudicots > Gentianales > Gentianaceae
Divergence Era
Paleogene (ca. 50 million years ago)
Representative Genera
Related Evolution Events
- ・Establishment of herbivore defense through accumulation of bitter glycosides
- ・Rapid diversification of flower color and form in alpine environments
Plants in Gentian family on this site
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