The tundra's final act

Gentiana algida, August 5, 2021

Gentiana algida, August 5, 2021

Common & scientific name
Arctic gentian, Gentiana algida

Family
Gentian, Gentianaceae

Location
Green Mountain, 11,800’

Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
One of our loveliest and latest-blooming alpine flowers. Its delicate, whitish, almost see-through petals are decorated with purple or green lines and tiny spots.  Its thick rosette of long, green leaves comes out a month or more before the flower.  It can be found on dry alpine ground where only a few hearty flowers remain.  See this jewel of a gentian and kiss summer on the tundra goodbye!

G. algida, August 5, 2021

G. algida, August 5, 2021