The Stemless Gentian

In the pastures below the Mont d’Or, deep blue trumpet flowers draw the eye. The Stemless Gentian (or Kock’s Gentian) is a species whose rarity equals its beauty. It owes its name (acaulis = “stemless”) to its very short stem. It blooms quite early in the season; the months of May or June should be preferred to be lucky enough to see one. Be careful, this is a protected species in the Franche-Comté region, hikers must therefore content themselves with observing them, and must not pick them! Here, it can be found with its very similar cousin, the Clusus Gentian. To tell the difference, you will need a lot of patience.