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What do stars, bottles, fringes, monuments, and the arctic all have in common? They describe five types of gentian that are now in bloom on Lost Man Loop, the perennial alpine favorite up Independence Pass. The startlingly sudden appearance of most of our local gentians means the wildflower season is entering its final phase. Happily, the gentian are still sharing the stage with hundreds of flowers we consider mid- or even early-season bloomers, those that follow the snowmelt still taking place above 12,000 feet. So set your alarm, put on your best soggy tundra shoes, and head for the pass.
Starting at 10,500 feet, Lost Man begins by alternating between wet subalpine meadows and drier spruce and fir forests. The meadows are where the gentian will be, and the first to make its appearance is star gentian, or Swertia perennis. This dusky purple flower has five widely spreading, pointed petals, unlike most gentians whose flowers are tubular in shape.
The other nontubular gentian is the monument plant, or Frasera speciosa, but that's where the similarities between the two gentians end. While the star gentian stands around 8 inches high, the monument plant, as its name suggests, stands up to 6 feet tall and consists of hundreds of green and white four-petaled flowers.
This has not been a good year for monument plants. After storing up energy for 40 or so years, monument plants tend to bloom collectively (for reasons unclear). Last year monument plants bloomed in profusion - this year they've been scarce, the one plant I saw lining Lost Man Trail being only the second I've seen in bloom this year.
The most commonly seen gentian along Lost Man is the fringed gentian, or Gentianopsis thermalis, named after the thermal basins of Yellowstone National Park where the flower is ubiquitous. Its four deep-blue, fringed petals twist around one another, forming a long, narrow tube. Nearby is bottle gentian, Gentiana parryi, whose common name well describes the shape and feel of this squatting, five-petaled, marine-blue flower.
The last gentian, Gentiana algida, or arctic gentian, appears late in the hike, on the north side of the pass above Independence Lake. It is a white, crepe-like flower with muted purple pleats and speckles. Arctic gentian is a rare and lovely flower, and one that I described last year in this column in late August, as opposed to late July. The flowers have things to tell us - whether we'll listen is another matter.
<b>Getting there:</b> From Aspen, drive east on Highway 82 just past mile marker 55 to the Lost Man Trailhead parking area on your left. The trail finishes another 4 miles up the road, where you can leave a second car or hitchhike.
Starting at 10,500 feet, Lost Man begins by alternating between wet subalpine meadows and drier spruce and fir forests. The meadows are where the gentian will be, and the first to make its appearance is star gentian, or Swertia perennis. This dusky purple flower has five widely spreading, pointed petals, unlike most gentians whose flowers are tubular in shape.
The other nontubular gentian is the monument plant, or Frasera speciosa, but that's where the similarities between the two gentians end. While the star gentian stands around 8 inches high, the monument plant, as its name suggests, stands up to 6 feet tall and consists of hundreds of green and white four-petaled flowers.
This has not been a good year for monument plants. After storing up energy for 40 or so years, monument plants tend to bloom collectively (for reasons unclear). Last year monument plants bloomed in profusion - this year they've been scarce, the one plant I saw lining Lost Man Trail being only the second I've seen in bloom this year.
The most commonly seen gentian along Lost Man is the fringed gentian, or Gentianopsis thermalis, named after the thermal basins of Yellowstone National Park where the flower is ubiquitous. Its four deep-blue, fringed petals twist around one another, forming a long, narrow tube. Nearby is bottle gentian, Gentiana parryi, whose common name well describes the shape and feel of this squatting, five-petaled, marine-blue flower.
The last gentian, Gentiana algida, or arctic gentian, appears late in the hike, on the north side of the pass above Independence Lake. It is a white, crepe-like flower with muted purple pleats and speckles. Arctic gentian is a rare and lovely flower, and one that I described last year in this column in late August, as opposed to late July. The flowers have things to tell us - whether we'll listen is another matter.
<b>Getting there:</b> From Aspen, drive east on Highway 82 just past mile marker 55 to the Lost Man Trailhead parking area on your left. The trail finishes another 4 miles up the road, where you can leave a second car or hitchhike.
