Gentiana purpurea - or is this a separate (sub)species?

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Gentiana purpurea - or is this a separate (sub)species?

Gentiana purpurea - or is this a separate (sub)species?

Looking at other pictures of Gentiana purpurea, while they vary a bit in color, I couldn't find one as deep red as this. So, is it a fluke, or a different (sub)species? I saw it on the northwestern slopes of the Ballunspitze, not all that far above the Kops Speicher. It wasn't the only one around, there were quite a few more. And none where purple, all were the same deep red color. 26 July 2013.
rgg
on Oct 10, 2013 11:34 am
Lat/Lon: 46.96362°N / 10.12337°E
Image Type(s): Flora
Image ID: 871306

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selinunte01

selinunte01 - Oct 21, 2013 3:21 pm - Voted 10/10

good question

I think these Gentiana species can be confusing colour shifters. In Karwendel mountains I once found a Gentiana punctata with a yellow base and a very deep red blossom - never seen that before or afterwards.

rgg

rgg - Oct 23, 2013 4:33 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: good question

Me neither - I thought the Gentiana punctata was supposed to be yellow. Maybe the one that you saw is a cross between the G. punctata and G. purpurea?

selinunte01

selinunte01 - Oct 25, 2013 6:37 am - Voted 10/10

Re: good question

Yes, G. punctata is yellow; I saw a whole meadow full of those this year at Klausenpass / Switzerland. The "red punctata" can be a hybrid - why not?

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