Frasera

Frasera is a genus of flowering plants in the gentian family, Gentianaceae. It is native to North America, where it is distributed in the western United States and Mexico. The plants are known commonly as elkweeds.

Description

Species of Frasera are perennial herbs growing from a woody base. They produce rosettes of large leaves at the base and smaller, oppositely arranged leaves along the erect stem. The inflorescence is a panicle of flowers with four pointed green sepals and four larger white or green-veined petals. The fruit is a capsule containing many seeds.

Taxonomy

The genus Frasera was first described by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque in 1818. The type species is Frasera caroliniensis. The genus is named for John Fraser, a Scottish botanist.

Species

There are about 20 species in the genus Frasera. Some of these include:

• Frasera albicaulis – whitestem elkweed
• Frasera neglecta – pinebarren elkweed
• Frasera speciosa – monument plant, green gentian

Uses

Some species of Frasera have been used in traditional medicine. For example, Frasera speciosa has been used by Native American tribes to treat ailments such as stomachaches and fevers.

External links

• The Plant List: Frasera
• ITIS Report: Frasera

Frasera Resources
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