English: American columbo; Yellow gentian; Swertia caroliniensis.
Names: Aka; American calumba; American colombo; Radix colombo americanae; Frasera Walteri; Frasera Canadensis; Faux colomo; Meadowpride; Pyramid-flower; Pyramid-plant; Indian lettuce; Ground-century.
Region: Southern Ontario, eastern and southeastern United States.
Habitat: deciduous forest; dry upland areas, rocky woods; areas with calcareous soil; not limited by soil texture or other soil characteristics.
BotanyTypical: flowers once after multiple seasons, 30 years, and then dies.
Herb; perennial; monocarpic; over 2 metres.
Stem: round; elongated.
Leaves: lanceolate; ± 10 cm; in whorls of four.
Inflorescence: panicle, with ± 70 flowers.
Flowers: folious, tall and spike"-like; green to yellow, with purple speckles;about 2 cm in diameter; perfect, complete; four stamens; two carpels.
Seed: oblong shaped capsule; brownish; ± 1cm long.
TaxonomyHistorically, Frasera has sometimes been considered part of Swertia. Molecular analysis has shown them to form a monophyletic clade separate from the rest of Swertia.