About Frasera fastigiata (Pursh) A.Heller
Frasera fastigiata, with the synonym Swertia fastigiata, is a flowering plant species in the gentian family. Its common name is clustered green gentian. This species is native to the northwestern United States, where it grows in meadows, grasslands, woodlands, and forest openings. It is a perennial herb that reaches up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall. Its basal leaves have oval or spoon-shaped blades that grow up to 30 centimeters long and 10 centimeters wide. Leaves located higher on the stem tend to be smaller and narrower. Some of the plant’s leaves have white margins. The inflorescence takes the form of a dense panicle at the top of the stem, and it may sometimes be interrupted to form a series of separate flower clusters. Each flower has a corolla made of four pointed lobes, each roughly one centimeter long. The corolla is greenish, and it is often tinged with yellow or blue. Each flower has four stamens tipped with large anthers, plus a central ovary. The rare plant Frasera umpquaensis is often classified as part of this species.
