Common Name:

General Information

Swertia bimaculata is an erect, much-branched, annual to biennial plant usually growing around 30 - 140cm tall, occasionally to 200cm[, ].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. The plant is sometimes mixed with Swertia chirayita and traded under that name[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - Nepal, northeast India, northern Myanmar, southern and eastern China, northern Vietnam, Japan.

Habitat

Wet grassy places in lowland and mountains[]. Beside streams, swamp, meadows, scrub, evergreen forests and shady forest floors; at elevations from 200 - 3,700 metres[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Annual/Biennial
Height	0.60 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Swertia species are generally plants of moderate to high elevations where they are often found on damp slopes and humus-rich, peat mosses. They grow best in areas with cool summers and perennial species are generally cold-hardy to temperatures down to around -15°c[].
Swertia species generally grow well in humus-rich soils in damp, open woodland, by streams or in bog gardens[].

Edible Uses

Root - cooked[, , ]. Generally considered to be a famine food and only eaten when better foods are not available[].

Medicinal

The whole plant is used in the treatment of fevers[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame at 10°c or less[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.