Home/Species/ Soapwort Gentian

Gentiana latidens

(House) J.S. Pringle & Weakley

Soapwort Gentian

G1Critically Imperiled (G1G2) Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →

G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank

MediumThreat Impact

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.130806

Element CodePDGEN060Q1

Record TypeSPECIES

ClassificationSpecies

Classification StatusStandard

Name CategoryVascular Plant

Endemicendemic to a single state or province

KingdomPlantae

PhylumAnthophyta

ClassDicotyledoneae

OrderGentianales

FamilyGentianaceae

GenusGentiana

Synonyms

Gentiana saponaria var. latidensHouse

Concept Reference

Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: Kartesz, J.T., and C.A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, N.C.

Taxonomic Comments

Gentiana latidens is recognized as a distinct species by Pringle's treatment in FNA (2023, vol. 14) and by Weakley et al. (2024). It has been recognized as a variety of G. saponaria (e.g., Kartesz 1999).

Conservation Status

Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2

Review Date2021-03-22

Change Date2021-03-22

Edition Date2021-03-22

Edition AuthorsTreher (2021)

Threat ImpactMedium

Range Extent<100 square km (less than about 40 square miles)

Number of Occurrences1 - 5

Rank Reasons

Gentiana saponaria var. latidens is endemic to North Carolina and restricted to an area at the intersection of Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Transylvania counties. There are 2-3 occurrences known in high elevation mountains. Two of these occurrences are based on historical occurrences that should be surveyed to determine if plants are extant.

Range Extent Comments

This taxon is endemic to North Carolina and restricted to an area at the intersection of Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Transylvania counties.

Occurrences Comments

There are two extant occurrences known.

Threat Impact Comments

This species is presently threatened by road maintenance and potentially timber harvest.

Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This species occurs on moist or seepy, rocky slopes (Weakley 2020).

Terrestrial Habitats

Forest/Woodland

Palustrine Habitats

TEMPORARY POOLHERBACEOUS WETLANDFORESTED WETLANDBog/fenRiparian

Other Nations (1)

United StatesN1

Province	Rank	Native
North Carolina	S1	Yes

Threat Assessments

Threat	Scope	Severity	Timing
4 - Transportation & service corridors	Large (31-70%)	Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline	Moderate (short-term)
4.1 - Roads & railroads	Large (31-70%)	Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline	Moderate (short-term)
5 - Biological resource use	Small (1-10%)	Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline	Low (long-term)
5.3 - Logging & wood harvesting	Small (1-10%)	Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline	Low (long-term)
5.3.4 - Unintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]	Small (1-10%)	Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline	Low (long-term)
7 - Natural system modifications	Pervasive (71-100%)	Serious or 31-70% pop. decline	Low (long-term)
7.2 - Dams & water management/use	Pervasive (71-100%)	Serious or 31-70% pop. decline	Low (long-term)
7.2.4 - Abstraction of surface water (unknown use)	Pervasive (71-100%)	Serious or 31-70% pop. decline	Low (long-term)

Plant Characteristics

DurationPERENNIAL

Economic Value (Genus)No

Roadless Areas (2)

North Carolina (2)

Area	Forest	Acres
Graveyard Ridge (addition)	Pisgah National Forest	1,958
Sam Knob (addition)	Pisgah National Forest	2,576

References (5)

Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2023. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 14. Magnoliophyta: Gentianaceae to Hydroleaceae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiv + 505 pp.
Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: Kartesz, J.T., and C.A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Pringle, J.S. and A.S. Weakley. 2009. Gentiana latidens (Gentianaceae), the Balsam Mountain gentian. Rhodora 111(947):389-397.
Weakley, A.S. 2020. Flora of the Southeastern United States. 20 October 2020 Edition. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Weakley, A.S., and Southeastern Flora Team. 2024. Flora of the southeastern United States. Edition of March 4, 2024. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 2203 pp.

Gentiana latidens

Habitat

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