Gentiana decumbens
L.f.
Gentianaceae
The Temperate Database is in the process of being updated, with new records being added and old ones being checked and brought up to date where necessary. This record has not yet been checked and updated.
Common Name:
General Information
Gentiana decumbens is a perennial plant that can grow up to 0.25 metres tall.
It 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.
,
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
Range
E. Asia - Himalayas to Siberia.
Habitat
Alpine slopes, 3300 - 4500 metres[
240- Title
- Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
- Publisher
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
- Year
- 1986
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
]. Along streams, grassland slopes, clearings in forests, dry steppes at elevations of 1,200 - 2,700 metres in northern China[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].
Properties
Medicinal Rating |  |
Habit | Perennial |
Height | 0.25 m |
Pollinators | Bumblebees, butterFlies |
Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
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[
239- Title
- Gentians.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kohlein. F.
- Publisher
- Christopher Helm. London.
- Year
- 1991
- ISBN
- 0-88192-192-0
- Description
- A nice readable book, giving details of habitats and cultural needs of all the members of this genus, with brief notes on other members of the family.
]. 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[
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.
,
239- Title
- Gentians.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kohlein. F.
- Publisher
- Christopher Helm. London.
- Year
- 1991
- ISBN
- 0-88192-192-0
- Description
- A nice readable book, giving details of habitats and cultural needs of all the members of this genus, with brief notes on other members of the family.
]. Most species will grow well in the rock garden[
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.
].
Plants are intolerant of root disturbance[
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
A tincture of the plant is used as a stomachic[
240- Title
- Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
- Publisher
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
- Year
- 1986
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a light position in a cold frame[
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.
]. 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[
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.
,
239- Title
- Gentians.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kohlein. F.
- Publisher
- Christopher Helm. London.
- Year
- 1991
- ISBN
- 0-88192-192-0
- Description
- A nice readable book, giving details of habitats and cultural needs of all the members of this genus, with brief notes on other members of the family.
]. It is advantageous to keep the seed at about 10°c for a few days after sowing, to enable the seed to imbibe moisture[
239- Title
- Gentians.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kohlein. F.
- Publisher
- Christopher Helm. London.
- Year
- 1991
- ISBN
- 0-88192-192-0
- Description
- A nice readable book, giving details of habitats and cultural needs of all the members of this genus, with brief notes on other members of the family.
]. 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[
239- Title
- Gentians.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kohlein. F.
- Publisher
- Christopher Helm. London.
- Year
- 1991
- ISBN
- 0-88192-192-0
- Description
- A nice readable book, giving details of habitats and cultural needs of all the members of this genus, with brief notes on other members of the family.
]. 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[
239- Title
- Gentians.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kohlein. F.
- Publisher
- Christopher Helm. London.
- Year
- 1991
- ISBN
- 0-88192-192-0
- Description
- A nice readable book, giving details of habitats and cultural needs of all the members of this genus, with brief notes on other members of the family.
]. 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[
239- Title
- Gentians.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kohlein. F.
- Publisher
- Christopher Helm. London.
- Year
- 1991
- ISBN
- 0-88192-192-0
- Description
- A nice readable book, giving details of habitats and cultural needs of all the members of this genus, with brief notes on other members of the family.
]. 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[
239- Title
- Gentians.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kohlein. F.
- Publisher
- Christopher Helm. London.
- Year
- 1991
- ISBN
- 0-88192-192-0
- Description
- A nice readable book, giving details of habitats and cultural needs of all the members of this genus, with brief notes on other members of the family.
]. When the plants are of sufficient size, place them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer.
Division in early spring[
111- Title
- Popular Hardy Perennials.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sanders. T. W.
- Publisher
- Collingridge
- Year
- 1926
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A fairly wide range of perennial plants that can be grown in Britain and how to grow them.
]. 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[
239- Title
- Gentians.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kohlein. F.
- Publisher
- Christopher Helm. London.
- Year
- 1991
- ISBN
- 0-88192-192-0
- Description
- A nice readable book, giving details of habitats and cultural needs of all the members of this genus, with brief notes on other members of the family.
].
Cuttings of basal shoots in late spring[
238- Title
- Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bown. D.
- Publisher
- Dorling Kindersley, London.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0-7513-020-31
- Description
- A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
].
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