Gentianaceae

Gentian family
Gentiana acaulis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Gentianaceae Juss.
Type genus
Gentiana L.

Gentianaceae is a family of flowering plants of 87 genera and about 1600 species.

Etymology

The family takes its name from the genus Gentiana, named after the Illyrian king Gentius.

Distribution

Distribution is cosmopolitan.

Characteristics

The family consists of trees, shrubs and herbs showing a wide range of colours and floral patterns. Flowers are actinomorphic and bisexual with fused sepals and petals. The stamens are attached to the inside of the petals (epipetalous) and alternate with the corolla lobes. There is a glandular disk at the base of the gynoecium, and flowers have parietal placentation. The inflorescence is cymose, with simple or complex cymes. The fruits are dehiscent septicidal capsules splitting into two halves, rarely some species have a berry. Seeds are small with copiously oily endosperms and a straight embryo. The habit varies from small trees, pachycaul shrubs to (usually) herbs, with ascending, erect or twining stems. Plants are usually rhizomatous. Leaves opposite, less often alternate or in some species whorled, simple in shape, with entire edges and bases connately attached to the stem. Stipules are absent. Plants usually accumulate bitter iridoid substances; bicollateral bundles are present. Ecologically, partial myco-heterotrophy is common among species in this family with a few genera such as Voyria and Voyriella lacking chlorophyll and being fully myco-heterotrophic.

Ecology

Some of these plants have limited ranges and are protected under governmental oversight. For example, Gentianella uliginosa (Dune Gentian), which occurs in some limited areas of Wales and Scotland, is a priority species under the Biodiversity Action Plan of the United Kingdom.

Uses

Economically, some species are cultivated ornamental plants and many species yield bitter principles used medicinally and in flavorings.

Taxonomy

The family was described for the first time by Antoine Laurent de Jussieu in 1789.

Tribes

• tribe Chironieae (G.Don) Endl.
  • subtribe Canscorinae Thiv & Kadereit
  • subtribe Chironiinae G.Don
  • subtribe Coutoubeinae G.Don
• tribe Exaceae Colla
• tribe Gentianeae Colla
  • subtribe Gentianinae G.Don
  • subtribe Swertiinae (Griseb.) Rchb.
• tribe Helieae Gilg
• tribe Potalieae Rchb.
  • subtribe Faroinae Struwe & V.A.Albert
  • subtribe Lisianthiinae G.Don
  • subtribe Potaliinae (Mart.) Progel
• tribe Saccifolieae (Maguire & Pires) Struwe, Thiv, V.A.Albert & Kadereit
• incertae sedis Voyria

Genera

• Adenolisianthus (Progel) Gilg
• Anthocleista R.Br.
• Aripuana Struwe, Maas & V.A.Albert
• Bartonia H.L.Mühl. ex Willd.
• Bisgoeppertia Kuntze
• Blackstonia Huds.
• Calolisianthus Gilg
• Canscora Lam.
• Celiantha Maguire
• Centaurium Hill
• Chelonanthus Gilg
• Chironia L.
• Chorisepalum Gleason & Wodehouse
• Cicendia Adans.
• Comastoma (Wettst.) Toyok.
• Congolanthus A.Raynal
• Cotylanthera Blume
• Coutoubea Aubl.
• Cracosna Gagnep.
• Crawfurdia Wall.
• Curtia Cham. & Schltdl.
• Deianira Cham. & Schltdl.
• Djaloniella P.Taylor
• Enicostema Blume
• Eustoma Salisb.
• Exaculum Caruel
• Exacum L.
• Fagraea Thunb.
• Faroa Welw.
• Frasera Walter
• Geniostemon Engelm. & A.Gray
• Gentiana L.
• Gentianella Moench
• Gentianopsis Ma
• Gentianothamnus Humbert.
• Halenia Borkh.
• Helia Mart.
• Hockinia Gardner
• Hoppea Willd.
• Irlbachia Mart.
• Ixanthus Griseb.
• Jaeschkea Kurz
• Karina Boutique
• Lagenanthus Gilg
• Latouchea Franch.
• Lehmanniella Gilg
• Lisianthius P.Browne
• Lomatogonium A.Braun
• Macrocarpaea (Griseb.) Gilg
• Megacodon (Hemsl.) Harry Sm.
• Microrphium C.B.Clarke
• Neblinantha Maguire
• Neurotheca Salisb. ex Benth.
• Obolaria L.
• Oreonesion A.Raynal
• Ornichia Klack.
• Orphium E.Mey.
• Phyllocyclus Kurz
• Potalia Aubl.
• Prepusa Mart.
• Pterygocalyx Maxim.
• Purdieanthus Gilg
• Pycnosphaera Gilg
• Rogersonanthus Maguire & Pires
• Sabatia Adans.
• Saccifolium Maguire & Pires
• Schinziella Gilg
• Schultesia Mart.
• Sebaea Sol. ex R.Br.
• Senaea Taub.
• Sipapoantha Maguire & B.M.Boom
• Swertia L.
• Symbolanthus G.Don
• Tachia Aubl.
• Tachiadenus Griseb.
• Tapeinostemon Benth.
• Tetrapollinia Maguire & B.M.Boom
• Tripterospermum Blume
• Urogentias Gilg & Gilg-Ben.
• Veratrilla Baill. ex Franch.
• Voyria Aubl.
• Voyriella Miq.
• Wurdackanthus Maguire
• Xestaea Griseb.
• Zonanthus Griseb.
• Zygostigma Griseb.

Phylogeny

Gentianaceae	Saccifolieae Exaceae Chironieae Helieae Potalieae Gentianeae

External links

• Gentian Research Network