Gentiana depressa?

[Cgull49]

I sowed some Gentiana depressa that I received from the most recent seed exchange and got fairly good germination.  The seedlings are continuing to grow but I'm not convinced that what I've sown is in fact G. depressa.  Would anyone be able to give me whether in fact what I've got growing is G. depressa or if not what type of Gentiana I have?

[Maggi Young]

Hello Rob, nice  to hear  from you.  Sadly  I am sure that those  are  not  G. depressa seedlings -  depressa has  much more  compact, shapely foliage.  Can't  say what it  might  be  though - perhaps a septemfida  type?

I'll move  this  to the  Gentiana section- where  Gabriela is  more  likely  to see  it - she's  good  at gentians!

[Tristan_He]

Yes, definitely not depressa - could well be septemfida, or maybe one of the coarser species like cruciata?

Sorry! 

[Gabriela]

You give me too much credit Maggi

Except that it is not depressa, it would be impossible to say just after the foliage what Gentiana is (or if it is a Gentiana). It could be anything from the Cruciata, or Pneumonanthe group or even something different. If there is a leftover seed then it could be at least placed in a certain group after the seed aspect.

Try to grow a few to flowering stage.

[Cgull49]

I do plan on growing them to flowering size.  While they might not be appropriate for a trough or crevice garden they could possibly do well in a regular garden plot.  I'll send photos when they bloom.  Hopefully sooner than later.

[GordonT]

Several years ago, I also ordered Gentiana depressa seeds from both the SRGC and NARGS Seed exchanges, and got the same results... not G. depressa. The plants were most likely Gentiana cruciata. This has happened over multiple years, which is disheartening.

[Cgull49]

Thanks for your feedback GordonT.  Yes it is very frustrating and am not sure how it happens.  I can see a few seeds getting mixed up when doing seed cleaning and not carefully removing all debris from the previous seed but to have all the seeds being mis-labelled repeatedly is a bit much.  Fortunately, almost all of the seed I have received over the years matches the name on the label.  We should be thankful for that.