Auckland Island gentian

Gentianella cerina has a thick trunk (caudex) which may be unbranched or branched and of a height from 110–200 mm. There are 3–12 flowering stems per plant (1.1–3.1 mm in diameter) and these may be terminal or lateral. The lateral flowering stems spread horizontally with the ends growing upwards (i.e., they are decumbent). The leaves are elliptic, 36.6–53.1 by 8.4–12.6 mm) and are flat, with thickened margins. The leaf apex is rounded and the distinct petiole is 11–13 mm by 4.7–6.3 mm. Leaves on flowering stems are the same but smaller. There are 15 to more than 100 flowers per plant, which are 9.9–14.1 mm long. The calyx is 9.3–12.2 mm long and there are hairs at calyx–corolla fusion line. The corolla is 8.4–11.8 mm long, and white or tinted red to purple, with colourless or purple veins. The tube is 2.1–4.4 mm long and the lobes are 6.3–8.8 by 3.8–5.0 mm. The pollen is yellow and the stigma is purple or colourless. There are 13–37 ovules per ovary, and the capsule is 6.5–12 mm long. It flowers from December to April.