Common Name:

General Information

Gentiana capitata is an annual plant with a single, erect stem that branches towards the top; it grows around 2 - 10cm tall[, , ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - Himalayan regions of India, Nepal, Tibet, Bangladesh and Myanmar

Habitat

Open slopes, meadows, rocky areas, forest clearings, forest floor; at elevations from 1,500 - 4,500 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.05 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Gentiana species generally grow best when there is ample moisture to the roots in the growing season, but they also require very good drainage[]. Often being native to mountainous regions, they require a certain minimum of atmospheric humidity; a high light intensity; but also a site where temperatures are not too high in the growing season[]. 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[, ]. Most species will grow well in the rock garden[].
Plants are intolerant of root disturbance[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The whole plant is an important ingredient in amchi medicine in Nepal, where it is used to treat coughs, fevers, poisoning and diarrhoea[, ]. The plant is also used as a paste in the treatment of headaches[, ].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a light position in a cold frame[]. It can also be sown in late winter or early spring but the seed germinates best if given a period of cold stratification and quickly loses viability when stored, with older seed germinating slowly and erratically[, ]. 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 until ready to plant out