Gentiana pneumonanthe

Gentiana pneumonanthe L. - Marsh gentian
Family: Gentianaceae

It is a euro-siberian species characterizing peaty lawns and moist moor lands at an altitude up to 1,500 metres.
It can hardly be confused with any other species of the genus.  It has a thin cylindrical stem, without with little ramification only near the inflorescence. It is 50-80 cm high, with opposite sessile linear lanceolate leaves. The latter are 4-5 cm long and slightly arched. The flowers are on short peduncles at the top of the stem, in variable numbers from 1-3 to 15 according to the age and dimensions of the specimen. They are dark blue, 3-5 cm long with greenish stripes. The species blooms from July to October. It needs evolved draining moist ground, no matter if the substratum is peaty or mineral; it prefers neutral or slightly acid ground, in open or slightly shady areas. The species is long-lived and it can grow for a long time even in wild lawns without reinforcing its populations. In Italy it can be mainly found in Molinia meadows, from the cost till the hill-mountain areas.
It can be found in many spots in the Stella river resurgence area, near the alkaline fens, in the peaty substratum areas, often characterized by saturated soil, but never flooded as one of the main components of the association Plantagini-Molinietum.