Common Name: Closed Bottle Gentian

General Information

Gentiana andrewsii is a herbaceous perennial plant forming a clump of growth from a fairly robust rootstock; the erect stems are around 30 - 60cm tall, occasionally reaching 80cm[, , ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Central and eastern N. America - southeast Manitoba to southwest Quebec, south to Colorado, Missouri and Virginia

Habitat

Meadows, damp prairies and low thickets[]. Moist woods, thickets and low wooded areas near streams and ponds[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.50 m
Pollinators	Bumblebees, butterFlies
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Gentiana andrewsii is a very cold-tolerant plant, when fully dormant it can withstand temperatures down to about -20°c[].
Best grown in moist, rich, cool, humusy, acidic, well-drained soils in part shade[]. Dislikes hot nights[]. In general, gentians require a moist well-drained soil in a sheltered position, a certain minimum of atmospheric humidity, high light intensity but a site where temperatures are not too high[]. They are therefore more difficult to grow in areas with hot summers and in such a region they appreciate some protection from the strongest sunlight[, ]. This species is fairly easy to grow, succeeding in most humus-rich soils[]. It tolerates more shade (but not full shade) than most members of the genus, growing well in a woodland garden[, ].
The plant produces clusters of tight blue, bottle-shaped flowers that do not open[].
If left undisturbed, plants in optimum growing conditions will naturalize over time into large clumps[].
Plants are intolerant of root disturbance[].
A moisture loving plant, preferring to grow with full exposure to the sun but with plenty of underground moisture in the summer, it grows better in the north and west of Britain[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The root is said to be an antidote to snakebites[, ].
An infusion of the roots has been used as a wash and also taken internally in the treatment of pain and headaches[]. An infusion of the roots has been used as drops for sore eyes[].

This N. American species has medicinal properties practically identical with the European gentians[]. The following notes are based on the general uses of Gentiana lutea which is the most commonly used species in the West[].

Gentian root has a long history of use as a herbal bitter in the treatment of digestive disorders and is an ingredient of many proprietary medicines. It contains some of the most bitter compounds known and is used as a scientific basis for measuring bitterness[]. It is especially useful in states of exhaustion from chronic disease and in all cases of debility, weakness of the digestive system and lack of appetite[]. It is one of the best strengtheners of the human system, stimulating the liver, gall bladder and digestive system[], and is an excellent tonic to combine with a purgative in order to prevent its debilitating effects[]. The root is anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, bitter tonic, cholagogue, emmenagogue, febrifuge, refrigerant, stomachic[, , , , , , ]. It is taken internally in the treatment of liver complaints, indigestion, gastric infections and anorexia[]. It should not be prescribed for patients with gastric or duodenal ulcers[]. The root is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use[]. It is quite likely that the roots of plants that have not flowered are the richest in medicinal properties[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow in mid winter in a standard seed compost[]. It is advantageous to keep the seed at about 10°c for a few days after sowing, to enable the seed to imbibe moisture[]. Following this with a period of at least 5 - 6 weeks with temperatures falling to between 0 and -5°c will usually produce reasonable germination[]. It is best to use clay pots, since plastic ones do not drain so freely and the moister conditions encourage the growth of moss, which will prevent germination of the seed[]. The seed should be surface-sown, or only covered with a very light dressing of compost. The seed requires dark for germination, so the pots should be covered with something like newspaper or be kept in the dark until germination begins[]. Pot up the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow on in light shade in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. The seedlings grow on very slowly, taking 2 - 7 years to reach flowering size[]. When the plants are of sufficient size, place them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer.
Division in early spring[]. Most members of this genus have either a single tap-root, or a compact root system united in a single root head, and are thus unsuitable for division[].
Cuttings of basal shoots in late spring[].