| Popis: |
The genus Gentiana L. (family Gentianaceae) comprises nearly 400 species and has a subcosmopolitan distribution. More than 300 (86.4%) species live in Asia, which is the major center of Gentiana distribution. The highest species concentration is found in the mountain regions in southwest China, in the Alps, the Pyrenees, and Carpathians in Europe, and in the Andes in South America. Some species live in lowlands all over the world, including northern America, southern Australia, and New Zealand (Hegi 1966). The habitat on high mountains restricted the dispersal of species; as a consequence, the number of endemic species in the regions of their origin is remarkably high. Thirteen species live in the Balkan Peninsula (Turrill 1929); G. lutea, G. cruciata,G. purpurea, G. acaulis, G. asclepiadea, and G. punctata are the objects of this chapter. |
