Bottle Gentian (Gentian a andrewsii)
“Keep close to Nature’s heart…" John Muir
BOTTLE GENTIAN (GENTIAN A ANDREWSII)
This is a native perennial forb/herb that grows in moist areas like damp prairies and woodland edges. It mainly grows from seeds but can reproduce by rhizome. The drainage of wetlands is believed to have caused it to now be an uncommon plant.
This unusual plant has a large flower that does not open so it remains closed as a bud. Only large bumble bees can force their way inside the flower to obtain its abundant and rich nectar. The large bumble bees are the only insects able to pollinate it. This relationship is called mutualistic association. "The bees benefit by having exclusive access to a bountiful nectar supply, and the plants benefit by attracting "loyal" pollinators that improve the chance for cross pollination"(1)
Because of its bitter taste, not many animals eat the bottle gentian but they are food for ground hogs and for scale insects. Deer can eat the shoots before the flower develops (2) As well some other nectar loving insects have found a way to steal the nectar from the side of the flower without entering it.
Plants for a Future(PFAF) have identified this as a useful medicinal because of the root's properties as an antiseptic(antimicrobial substance able reduce infection on the skin), anti helminth(able to expel parasitic worms without causing significant damage to the host) as well as a host of other medicinal properties.
(1)http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/ent525/close/gentian.html
(2)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentiana_andrewsii
(3)http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/bt_gentianx.htm
(4)http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Gentiana+andrewsii
This plants demonstrates a type of symbiosis called mutualism. This is common relationship of organisms in the natural world and demonstrates a direct dependance one organism has with another. Other types of interdependance are more complex but exist none the less. Below is a video describing basic principles of symbiosis
BOTTLE GENTIAN (GENTIAN A ANDREWSII)
This is a native perennial forb/herb that grows in moist areas like damp prairies and woodland edges. It mainly grows from seeds but can reproduce by rhizome. The drainage of wetlands is believed to have caused it to now be an uncommon plant.
This unusual plant has a large flower that does not open so it remains closed as a bud. Only large bumble bees can force their way inside the flower to obtain its abundant and rich nectar. The large bumble bees are the only insects able to pollinate it. This relationship is called mutualistic association. "The bees benefit by having exclusive access to a bountiful nectar supply, and the plants benefit by attracting "loyal" pollinators that improve the chance for cross pollination"(1)
Because of its bitter taste, not many animals eat the bottle gentian but they are food for ground hogs and for scale insects. Deer can eat the shoots before the flower develops (2) As well some other nectar loving insects have found a way to steal the nectar from the side of the flower without entering it.
Plants for a Future(PFAF) have identified this as a useful medicinal because of the root's properties as an antiseptic(antimicrobial substance able reduce infection on the skin), anti helminth(able to expel parasitic worms without causing significant damage to the host) as well as a host of other medicinal properties.
(1)http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/ent525/close/gentian.html
(2)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentiana_andrewsii
(3)http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/bt_gentianx.htm
(4)http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Gentiana+andrewsii
This plants demonstrates a type of symbiosis called mutualism. This is common relationship of organisms in the natural world and demonstrates a direct dependance one organism has with another. Other types of interdependance are more complex but exist none the less. Below is a video describing basic principles of symbiosis
