Question: Hi: Not sure if this is Meadow or Andrews Bottle Gentian. How can I tell the difference? I am on …
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Question
Hi: Not sure if this is Meadow or Andrews Bottle Gentian. How can I tell the difference? I am on the Groton Conservation Commission. Found near Nashua River. Mary Metzger
Answer
Dear Mary, this is a very difficult question to answer without images, because it requires you to sort our the corolla (all of the petals of a given flower taken collectively). There is an image of these two species in the Newcombs's Wildflower Guide (page 253) that shows the differences in the corollas. If you don't have access to this, let me know and I can find a way to get an illustration to you (email me at ahaines[at]newenglandwild.org. The technical description of the differences are found on the Go Botany website (use the dichotomous key and go to the Gentiana key). Best wishes.
