Orangefruit Horse-Gentian is not a true gentian; it has different fruit and flower structures from true gentians, and has stipules. (True gentians belong to the gentian family, Gentianaceae.) Orangefruit Horse-Gentian grows throughout much of eastern North America and into some of the Plains states. It is uncommon in Maryland, occurring mainly in the western part of the state.
Orangefruit Horse-Gentian has 3 or 4 dull purple or red flowers in the axils of each pair of opposite leaves. The flowers bloom in late spring to early summer. The fruits, which are oblong, each contain 3 hard stones and ripen in the fall. The leaves are large, broad, and oval-shaped. The plant reaches 2 to 4 feet tall.
This species thrives in well-drained soils rich in organic matter. It grows in rocky woods, thickets, stands of oak, aspen, sassafras, and/or pines.
The flowers attract long-tongued pollinators, especially bumblebees (Bombus spp.) and Anthophorid bees (Anthophora spp.). The caterpillars of the moth Hemaris diffinis (Snowberry Clearwing) feed on Triosteum spp. and other members of the honeysuckle family (US Forest Service Plant of the Week: Triosteum aurantiacum).
There are 11 records in the project database.
| GA | AL | WA | FR | CL | MO | HO | BA | BC | HA | CE | PG | AA | CV | CH | SM | KE | QA | CN | TA | DO | WI | SO | WO |
