Phylum: Magnoliophyta - Class: Equisetopsida - Order: Gentianales - Family: Gentianaceae
The name 'thermalis' refers to this plant's preference for growing in warm places - including very close to geysers in Yellowstone National Park, where it can be found in great profusion. In other parts of the Rockies this gentian grows in damp and marshy places and along stream banks which is where we found it in Rocky Mountain National Park.
The Rocky Mountain Fringed Gentian flowers in late summer - July onwards. There are several variants of this lovely wildflower depending on the region in which you find them
The specimen on this page was photographed in the eastern zone of Rocky Mountain National Park in late August .