At this time of the year on the Shorepine Bog trail in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve two different species of gentians are blooming. Both are easy to see with a little effort and can be found in bogs and wet areas on Vancouver Island.
King Gentian
King Gentian (Gentiana sceptrum) is a beautiful plant with a cluster of blue flowers at the top of the stem. The flowers are tubular and have 5 flaring lobes. The leaves of this plant are opposite and oblong-lance shaped. King Gentian is so called because the flowers look like a sceptre, hence the “king gentian.”
Swamp Gentian
Swamp Gentian (Gentiana douglasiana) is a much smaller plant with white flowers that are tubular or funnel-like in shape. The white petals often are spotted with puple, and become yellow towards the center of the flower tube. Swamp Gentian flowers are either solitary or occur as a flat-topped cluster at the top of the stem. The species name “douglasiana” references David Douglas, a Scottish botanist who’s name is associated with many west-coast plants.
Comparing the Two Flowers
It’s difficult to decide which of these flowers is more beautiful. They can’t be separated on the basis of fragrance because neither has a noticeable scent. King Gentian is definitely the more dramatic of the two gentians growing in the bog and is larger in size than the smaller Swamp Gentian. I do like the way that the Swamp Gentian photographs – the shallower flowers and the contrast of the fine spots, white petals and greenish-yellow center make it easy to compose an image. Red mites seemed to be equally impressed with both flowers. I had to wait until they had vacated the flowers to get a “clean” photograph!
Both are quite beautiful, as are your captures!
I lke both flowers , are very beautiful