felwort

A European herb, Swertia perennis (star swertia), of the gentian family.

Any member of any species in genus Swertia.

Any member of any species in the tribe Gentianeae

On 31st July 1990 seven plants of a small felwort, Gentianella amarella (L.) Boerner, were discovered by the writer growing in short, sheep-grazed Festuca – Sesleria grassland at Kettlewell. Unlike our usual felwort which has blue flowers, these plants had the corolla white on the inside with a maroon outer surface and fitted exactly the description of Gentianella amarella ssp. septentrionalis (Druce) N. Pritch. This determination was subsequently confirmed by Dr Noel Pritchard, BSBI referee for Gentianaceae.