Subalpine, alpine.  Meadows, openings.  Summer, fall.
Eagle Peak Trail, August 18, 2007.

Mountain Gentian is found scattered in meadows where it pokes out of grasses with its brilliant blue/purple flower.  The five petals are separated by unusual, slightly toothed projections.  Plants range from a few inches tall on alpine tundra to eighteen inches tall on richer soils in subalpine meadows.  Flower petals may be rounded or pointed.

Sunshine opens the tightly closed flower wide and deep, giving it a second common name, "Bottle Gentian".  "Pneumo" is Greek for "the wind" or "lungs" and "anthus" is Greek for "flower". 

Nineteenth century botanist Charles Parry made the first collection of this plant in Colorado in 1862 and George Engelmann named the plant Gentiana parryi  in 1863.  Edward Greene renamed the plant Pneumonanthe parryi in 1904.  Parry is honored in the names of dozens of plants.  (More biographical information.)

Subalpine, alpine.  Meadows, openings.  Summer, fall.
Eagle Peak Trail, August 18, 2007.

Subalpine, alpine.  Meadows, openings.  Summer, fall.
Navajo Lake Trail, Lizard Head Wilderness, August 30, 2007.

Pneumonanthe parryi flower color is very consistently blue/purple, so we were pleasantly surprised to find this lovely lilac flower along the Navajo Lake Trail. 

Subalpine, alpine.  Meadows, openings.  Summer, fall.
Horse Creek Trail, August 24, 2004.

Flowers are in terminal clusters, usually in groups of three-to-five, and are subtended by the leaf-like bracts which enclosed them in bud stage.  (One bud enclosed in bracts is behind the flower at right.)