Gentiana veitchiorum Hemsl.

Perennials 5-8 cm tall, sometimes ± rhizomatous or stoloniferous. Stems ascending, simple, papillate. Basal rosette leaves well developed; leaf blade linear-lanceolate to linear-elliptic, 3-5.5 cm × 2-5 mm, base connate for 2-4 mm, margin scabrous, apex acuminate, midvein distinct. Stem leaves larger and more crowded toward apex, uppermost surrounding calyx; leaf blade base narrowed and connate for 2-3 mm, margin scabrous, apex acuminate to acute, midvein distinct. Lower stem leaves ovate, 2.5-7 × 2-4 mm; middle to upper leaves linear, linear-elliptic, narrowly elliptic, or elliptic-lanceolate, 0.7-1.5 cm × 3-4.5 mm. Flowers terminal, solitary, sessile. Calyx tube tubular to narrowly obconic, 1.2-1.4 cm; lobes green, linear-elliptic, 6-11 mm, base slightly narrowed, margin scabrous, apex acuminate, midvein distinct. Corolla intense blue, with pale yellow-white base and black streaks and spots, occasionally corolla cream white to very pale lavender, narrowly funnelform, 4-6 cm; lobes ovate to triangular, 5-7 mm, margin entire, apex acute; plicae ovate, 2.5-3.5 mm, margin entire or erose, apex obtuse. Stamens inserted just below middle of corolla tube; filaments 1-1.3 cm; anthers narrowly ellipsoid, 3-3.5 mm. Style 5-6 mm; stigma lobes linear. Capsules ellipsoid to ovoid-ellipsoid, 1.5-1.7 cm; gynophore 1.5-2 cm. Seeds light brown, ellipsoid, 1-1.3 mm. Fl. and fr. Jul-Oct.

Gansu, Qinghai, W Sichuan, S and SE Xizang, NW Yunnan [Bhutan, Myanmar, Sikkim].

River banks, grassland slopes, alpine meadows, scrub, forests; 2500-4800 m.

Gentiana ornata (Wallich ex G. Don) Grisebach var. acutifolia Franchet; G. ornata var. obtusifolia Franchet.