Gentiana saponaria is a perennial herb to 70 cm tall.
Leaves opposite, to 10 cm long, elliptic or widest above middle, margin hairy.
Flowers blue, to 5 cm long, 1.5 cm wide, tubular, inflated on one side, lobes narrowly opening, erect or curved inward, blooms Sept.-Oct.
Fruit dry, 2-parted capsule with numerous seeds.
Wetland status: FACW.
Frequency in NYC: Rare (NYS S1, E).
Origin: Native.
Habitat: Moist open woods, meadows.