- Gentians in the Alpine is a short video showing the different species I have seen along the Mt. Robert's trail in Juneau, Alaska.
- I find these flowers and plants quite fascinating. When it is raining, or cool and cloudy they often stay completely closed and only open on sunny days.
- During one mostly cool rainy summer I wondered what might pollinate them. I opened up one flower and discovered they had numerous thrips (a very tiny insect) in them. I have read that these insects can be important pollinators of some plants. I could see where an insect this tiny could force its way into the closed flower.
- I see many of them in complete flower clear up to the end of September when most other flowers have gone.
- It was exciting to find one very tiny Gentian called a moss gentian along the trail. These flowers are only an inch or two tall and very difficult to spot.
- To learn about how the Gentians "anticipate" and respond to changes in the weather look at /sites/default/files/FLORAL%20MOVEMENTS%20IN%20RESPONSE%20TO%20WEATHER.pdf
Gentians in the Alpine
https://vimeo.com/352158933