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Useful Temperate Plants

Swertia petiolata

D.Don

Gentianaceae

+ Synonyms

Swertia lahulensis A.Kern.

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Swertia petiolata is a herbaceous perennial plant with stems that are branched above; it usually grows around 15 - 90cm tall[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
506
Title
The Flora of British India. (in 7 volumes)
Publication
 
Author
Hooker J.D.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
L.Reeve & Co.; London
Year
1872 - 1897
ISBN
 
Description
Rather dated, but has some information on plant uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
2025
Title
Ethnobotany of the Himalayas
Publication
 
Author
Kunwar R.M., Sher H. & Bussmann R.W. (Eds)
Website
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57408-6
Publisher
Springer Nature; Switzerland
Year
2021
ISBN
978-3-030-57407-9
Description
 
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine..

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
506
Title
The Flora of British India. (in 7 volumes)
Publication
 
Author
Hooker J.D.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
L.Reeve & Co.; London
Year
1872 - 1897
ISBN
 
Description
Rather dated, but has some information on plant uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.

Range

E. Asia - Himalayan regions of eastern Afghanistan, northern Pakistan, northwest India and western Nepal

Habitat

Montane to the alpine zone; at elevations from 2,500 - 5,500 metres[
2025
Title
Ethnobotany of the Himalayas
Publication
 
Author
Kunwar R.M., Sher H. & Bussmann R.W. (Eds)
Website
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57408-6
Publisher
Springer Nature; Switzerland
Year
2021
ISBN
978-3-030-57407-9
Description
 
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *
HabitPerennial
Height0.60 m
Cultivation StatusWild

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[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Swertia species generally grow well in humus-rich soils in damp, open woodland, by streams or in bog gardens[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The entire plant is used in Tibetan medicine, it is considered to have a bitter taste and extremely cooling potency[
241
Title
Tibetan Medicinal Plants
Publication
 
Author
Tsarong. Tsewang. J.
Publisher
Tibetan Medical Publications, India
Year
1994
ISBN
81-900489-0-2
Description
A nice little pocket guide to the subject with photographs of 95 species and brief comments on their uses.
]. It also has anti-inflammatory, febrifuge and liver tonic activities[
241
Title
Tibetan Medicinal Plants
Publication
 
Author
Tsarong. Tsewang. J.
Publisher
Tibetan Medical Publications, India
Year
1994
ISBN
81-900489-0-2
Description
A nice little pocket guide to the subject with photographs of 95 species and brief comments on their uses.
]. The plant is used in the treatment of diseases such as scleritis, inflammation of the liver, high blood pressure, inflammation of the stomach[
241
Title
Tibetan Medicinal Plants
Publication
 
Author
Tsarong. Tsewang. J.
Publisher
Tibetan Medical Publications, India
Year
1994
ISBN
81-900489-0-2
Description
A nice little pocket guide to the subject with photographs of 95 species and brief comments on their uses.
].

The root of the plant is bitter and is used as a household tonic. It is also said to have cooling, anthelmintic, antipyretic, antiperiodic, and laxative actions[
2025
Title
Ethnobotany of the Himalayas
Publication
 
Author
Kunwar R.M., Sher H. & Bussmann R.W. (Eds)
Website
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57408-6
Publisher
Springer Nature; Switzerland
Year
2021
ISBN
978-3-030-57407-9
Description
 
].
An extract of the root is used to treat eye pain[
2025
Title
Ethnobotany of the Himalayas
Publication
 
Author
Kunwar R.M., Sher H. & Bussmann R.W. (Eds)
Website
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57408-6
Publisher
Springer Nature; Switzerland
Year
2021
ISBN
978-3-030-57407-9
Description
 
].
A paste made from the root is used as a treatment for ophthalmia[
2025
Title
Ethnobotany of the Himalayas
Publication
 
Author
Kunwar R.M., Sher H. & Bussmann R.W. (Eds)
Website
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57408-6
Publisher
Springer Nature; Switzerland
Year
2021
ISBN
978-3-030-57407-9
Description
 
].

A decoction of the leaves is used in the treatment of scleritis, stomach inflammation, and as a liver tonic[
2025
Title
Ethnobotany of the Himalayas
Publication
 
Author
Kunwar R.M., Sher H. & Bussmann R.W. (Eds)
Website
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57408-6
Publisher
Springer Nature; Switzerland
Year
2021
ISBN
978-3-030-57407-9
Description
 
].

The plant is used in the treatment of diabetes, stomach pains, liver disorders, typhoid, cancer, pneumonia, and malaria[
2025
Title
Ethnobotany of the Himalayas
Publication
 
Author
Kunwar R.M., Sher H. & Bussmann R.W. (Eds)
Website
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57408-6
Publisher
Springer Nature; Switzerland
Year
2021
ISBN
978-3-030-57407-9
Description
 
] A decoction of the plant is used to treat leukoderma, inflammations, pain in the body, urinary discharges, ulcers, asthma[
2025
Title
Ethnobotany of the Himalayas
Publication
 
Author
Kunwar R.M., Sher H. & Bussmann R.W. (Eds)
Website
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57408-6
Publisher
Springer Nature; Switzerland
Year
2021
ISBN
978-3-030-57407-9
Description
 
].
The powdered plant is an effective remedy for bronchitis, leucorrhea, piles, bad taste in the mouth, vomiting during pregnancy, irregularity or infrequency of passing faeces, as well as stomach burn[
2025
Title
Ethnobotany of the Himalayas
Publication
 
Author
Kunwar R.M., Sher H. & Bussmann R.W. (Eds)
Website
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57408-6
Publisher
Springer Nature; Switzerland
Year
2021
ISBN
978-3-030-57407-9
Description
 
].
The plant is applied topically to treat wounds[
2025
Title
Ethnobotany of the Himalayas
Publication
 
Author
Kunwar R.M., Sher H. & Bussmann R.W. (Eds)
Website
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57408-6
Publisher
Springer Nature; Switzerland
Year
2021
ISBN
978-3-030-57407-9
Description
 
].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow in trays in spring in a humus-rich medium in temperatures not exceeding 10°c[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in early summer.
Division of large clumps in spring, taking care not to damage any taproots[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Swertia+petiolata>

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