Gentiana alba?

[Philippe]

Could this Gentiana be the north american G.alba, or is it simply too different to be just a variation of it?
The basal leaves are of a quite fresh green, large and slighlty pointed.
What I see on the web about the true alba makes me feel this is again a false plant...

[Philippe]

Well, meanwhile I think I have found what this gentian could be: rather G.tibetica.

[Olga Bondareva]

Philippe it is G.tibetica if it is big with hosta like leaves.

[TheOnionMan]

Some web links for Gentiana alba.
http://wisplants.uwsp.edu/scripts/detail.asp?SpCode=GENALB
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=GEAL4
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=8&cad=rja&ved=0CEkQFjAH&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fs.fed.us%2Fr9%2Fwildlife%2Ftes%2Fca-overview%2Fdocs%2FPlants%2FGentiana_alba-Yellowish_Gentian.pdf&ei=90U6ULPZBpGg8QTAqYHYCQ&usg=AFQjCNFURCJfrdxfeeTSd-XoT2emxfFe7w

[Philippe]

Philippe it is G.tibetica if it is big with hosta like leaves.

That's it Olga
Thanks to both of you.

[brianw]

The flower stem of G. alba on these links look very similar to my G. tibetica. The latter has leaves that look almost diseased in spring with yellowish streaks up the central rib. They look greener later in the season in mine. G. tibetica seems always to have a central rosette, and sides shoots that carry the flowers. We are used to this pattern of growth with low growing alpines but it looks a bit odd in such a large plant. I seem to have a lot of seed pods forming if anyone wants some later. It is not the most elegant plant.

[Olga Bondareva]

Gentiana tibetica (G. septemfida at the right). Differs from plants at Mark's links.





It makes me understand not all gentians are of real beauty. 

[Peter Maguire]

It's a pity the leaves of G tibetica are so coarse, Philippe's picture makes the flower look very attractive.
I almost regret composting mine. 

[Maggi Young]

It's a pity the leaves of G tibetica are so coarse.......

So, have you  no Colchicums, no Hostas, no daffodils in your garden, Peter?  All those have coarse leaves too.......  

[Oron Peri]

I would do  anything to have such leaves in my garden,,,, but they will probably last here 15 minuts...[that is in winter time off course]

[Peter Maguire]

Maggi,
Colchicums (they have large flowers) I have - their leaves are largely hidden beneath the remains of the Hosta leaves that have not been shredded by our local snail population. 

Strangely, we have very few daffodils. I'm not a great fan of their yellow flowers. It's not the daffodils as such, but I think that I have a problem with yellow flowers in general. I've tried to think what we do have in the garden with yellow flowers - a shrubby Hypericum of unknown species, a Linum, a small patch of Patrinia triloba, Trillium luteum and that's it. Apart from a couple of yellow Disas, but they're orchids and can be forgiven their flower colour. 

[Maggi Young]

 

[Philippe]

It's a pity the leaves of G tibetica are so coarse, Philippe's picture makes the flower look very attractive.
I almost regret composting mine. 

I must have a closer look to that plant then. I must say I don't pay very much attention to it in general as it doesn't flower every year, and there are naturally so many others really more beautiful plants, but now I know it is in the wrong bed, and must go completing the himalayan one, I will.

Looking at Olga's pic of the whole plant, I have the impression - or the memory- of a plant with a better "look". More compact, with shorter stems, less straggly. May be due to the altitude.

I'll try to take pics of it nextly, if my impressions are right, and put them here.