Autumn Gentian
Gentianella amarella
Tap image to enlarge · Wikimedia Commons
Overview
The Autumn Gentian is one of the botanical jewels of the Sefton Coast dune grassland — a small biennial with purple-pink tubular flowers in August and September. It's a plant of very short, undisturbed calcareous grassland and is declining nationally as this habitat is lost. On the Sefton Coast the short dune turf at Ainsdale is one of its better northwest England sites. The flowers only open in sunshine — on dull days you'll walk past without noticing them.
At a Glance
| Order | Gentianales |
| Family | Gentianaceae |
| Habitat | Short calcareous dune grassland · Limestone grassland · Dune turf |
| UK population | Declining — amber-listed; lost from many former sites in lowland England |
| Sefton Coast | Present in suitable short calcareous dune grassland at Ainsdale; a notable late-season plant |
| Conservation | UK Amber List |
Where to See It
Short calcareous dune grassland at Ainsdale NNR. One of the late-season botanical highlights.
Identification
Small plant, 10–25cm. Dull purple-pink four- or five-petalled tubular flowers with a fringe inside the tube. Flowers only open in sunshine. Biennial — rosette in year one, flowers in year two.
Viewing & Photography Tips
Visit Ainsdale NNR in August–September in sunshine. Walk the shortest, most undisturbed dune turf. The flowers are small but the purple-pink colour stands out among the grass.
Conservation Status
UK Amber List
This species is of moderate conservation concern. Population monitoring and habitat management on the Sefton Coast support its continued recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are gentians associated with bitter medicines?
Gentians contain gentiopicroside and other iridoid compounds that are extremely bitter — some of the most bitter naturally occurring substances known. The bitterness has led to their use in herbal medicine as 'bitters' to stimulate digestion and liver function. Angostura bitters and other aperitifs use gentian root as a key ingredient. The Autumn Gentian is less bitter than the larger Alpine gentians used in medicine but shares the same chemical family.
Related Species
Plan your visit to the Sefton Coast
Marshside RSPB, Formby pinewoods, Ainsdale NNR — practical guides to getting there, what to bring, and the best spots for each season.