Phylogenetic relationships between the European species of the genusGentianaL. (Gentianaceae) were inferred from chloroplasttrnL, (UAA) intron sequence data. The phylogeny obtained is largely in accordance with the classification of species into sectionsGentiana, MegalantheandCalathianae.Few synapomorphies support the branching of the main lineages and thus could suggest a rapid radiation following the colonization of Europe. Within sectionGentiana, our results are highly congruent with the previous distinction ofG. montserratiiVivant fromG. luteaL. SectionMegalantheis divided into two well separated lineages, both of which comprise calcicole and calcifuge species. The ‘star phylogeny’ obtained in sectionCalathianaesuggests that most of the taxa speciated almost simultaneously. Relative‐rate tests between two lineages suggested that sectionChondropliyllaedisplays higher mutation rates than the rest of the genusGentianaand that cpDNA can violate assumptions of rate constancy at lower taxonomic