Fringed Gentian, A Late Bloomer

Fringed Gentian at Pokagon State Park, September 28, 2008

The Fringed Gentian is among the last wildflowers to bloom in the fall.  After looking for it in vain for several years Joann and I finally saw it for the first time on September 28, 2008 at Pokagon State Park.  In 2009 we found it in the Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area near Mongo.  To date we haven't found it anywhere closer to Goshen.

On October 3 a friend and I went back to the Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area to look for the gentian.  We searched first at the Mongoquinong Fen that borders the Pigeon River on the west side of CR 600E, 1 1/2 miles west of Mongo.

View of Mongoquinong Fen on north shore of Pigeon River

On the fen

Water flows into the fen from springs in the bluff (at back of above photo) and into the river.  After searching among tufts of sedge, we finally found two Fringed Gentian plants, but the flowers hadn't fully opened (photo below).  Also in bloom were Shrubby Cinquefoil, New England Aster, Fen Thistle, and Black-Eyed Susan.

Fringed Gentian, Gentianopsis crinita

We then found several Fringed Gentian flowers fully open (photo below) a few miles away in a wet ditch along CR 150N.  [Click on the photos to enlarge.]

A white butterfly on Fringed Gentian, Gentianopsis crinita

Fringed Gentian up close

 Fringed Gentian are few and far between; nonetheless, I enjoy the search.

[Please note: This is the last blog post for the 2011 wildflower season.]