Eustoma exaltatum

Eustoma exaltatum, commonly called seaside gentian,^[3] is a species of flowering plant in the gentian family (Gentianaceae).

Eustoma exaltatum
Conservation status
Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Gentianaceae
Genus:	Eustoma
Species:	E. exaltatum
Binomial name
Eustoma exaltatum (L.) Salisb. ex G.Don
Forms[2]
Eustoma exaltatum f. barkleyi (Standl. ex Shinners) B.L.Turner Eustoma exaltatum f. exaltatum

Description

Eustoma exaltatum is an erect herbaceous plant with a glaucous, leafy stem. It produces large, purple, bell-shaped flowers throughout the growing season, peaking in spring through summer.^[4][3]

Eustoma russellianum is closely related to Eustoma exaltatum, and in some treatments they are ranked as subspecies, rather than as separate species.^[5]

Distribution

It is native to North America, where it found in from the southern United States and the West Indies, south to Mexico and Belize.^[6] Its natural habitat is wet places, such as alkaline marshes, stream beds, and saline coastal areas.^[6][5][4] It is moderately tolerant of inundation by salt water, and highly tolerant of salt winds.^[3]