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Useful Temperate Plants

Gentiana decumbens

L.f.

Gentianaceae

+ Synonyms

Ciminalis decumbens Bercht. & J.Presl

Dasystephana adscendens (Pall.) Borkh.

Dasystephana decumbens (L.f.) Zuev

Dasystephana sangilenica Zuev

Eyrythalia gebleri G.Don

Gentiana adscendens Pall.

Gentiana ascendens Poir. ex Steud.

Gentiana gebleri Ledeb. ex Bunge

Gentiana sangilenica (Zuev) Czerep.

Pneumonanthe adscendens (Pall.) F.W.Schmidt

Tretorhiza decumbens (L.f.) Á.Löve & D.Löve

Tretorhiza decumbens (L.f.) Soják

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Gentiana decumbens is a herbaceous perennial plant with a stout, branched rootstock; it produces a basal rosette of leaves with ascending stems around 15 - 45cm tall[
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.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine, being used in several herbal prescriptions in Mongolia. It is often grown as an ornamental.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

74
Title
Flora of the USSR.
Publication
 
Author
Komarov. V. L.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Israel Program for Scientific Translation
Year
1968
ISBN
-
Description
An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
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

Eurasia - eastern European Russia and Kazakhstan, east to eastern Siberia, Mongolia and northern China

Habitat

Alpine slopes; at elevations from 3,300 - 4,500 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 *  *  *
HabitPerennial
Height0.25 m
PollinatorsBumblebees, butterFlies
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Gentiana decumbens is native to mountainous regions in the temperate zone of northern Eurasia, where it can be found at elevations up to 2,700 metres. A very cold-tolerant plant, when fully dormant it can withstand temperatures down to about -30°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.
].
Gentiana species generally grow best when there is ample moisture to the roots in the growing season, but they also require very good drainage[
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.
]. 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[
239
Title
Gentians.
Publication
 
Author
Köhlein. F.
Publisher
Christopher Helm. London.
Year
1991
ISBN
0-88192-192-0
Description
A nice readable book, giving details of habitats and cultural needs for many of the members of this genus, with brief notes on other genera in 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
Köhlein. F.
Publisher
Christopher Helm. London.
Year
1991
ISBN
0-88192-192-0
Description
A nice readable book, giving details of habitats and cultural needs for many of the members of this genus, with brief notes on other genera in 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.
]. This speies is generally easy to grow, preferring a stony, well-drained soil in full sun[
239
Title
Gentians.
Publication
 
Author
Köhlein. F.
Publisher
Christopher Helm. London.
Year
1991
ISBN
0-88192-192-0
Description
A nice readable book, giving details of habitats and cultural needs for many of the members of this genus, with brief notes on other genera in the family.
].
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

The root is stomachic[
2037
Title
A cross-cultural analysis of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh (India) medicinal plant use
Publication
J Ethnopharmacol. 2014;155:925-86.
Author
Gairola S. et al
Website
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2014.06.029
Publisher
 
Year
2014
ISBN
 
Description
 
,
2180
Title
Ethnobotany of India Volume 4 Western and Central Himalayas
Publication
 
Author
Pullaiah T. et al (Editors)
Publisher
Apple Academic Press Inc.; Oakville, Canada
Year
2018
ISBN
13: 978-1-77188-5
Description
 
].

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.
].
The taste is bitter and sour, and the potency is cool and blunt. The plant aids in the expelling of bile and also stimulates the secretion of gastric acids. It is used in the treatment of fevers and coughs, and is an ingredient in various traditional prescriptions in Mongolia[
1081
Title
Medicinal Plants in Mongolia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.who.in
Publisher
World Health Organisation; Western Pacific Region
Year
2013
ISBN
987 92 9061 632 0
Description
Information on medicinal plants from Mongolia
]:

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
Köhlein. F.
Publisher
Christopher Helm. London.
Year
1991
ISBN
0-88192-192-0
Description
A nice readable book, giving details of habitats and cultural needs for many of the members of this genus, with brief notes on other genera in 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
Köhlein. F.
Publisher
Christopher Helm. London.
Year
1991
ISBN
0-88192-192-0
Description
A nice readable book, giving details of habitats and cultural needs for many of the members of this genus, with brief notes on other genera in 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
Köhlein. F.
Publisher
Christopher Helm. London.
Year
1991
ISBN
0-88192-192-0
Description
A nice readable book, giving details of habitats and cultural needs for many of the members of this genus, with brief notes on other genera in 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
Köhlein. F.
Publisher
Christopher Helm. London.
Year
1991
ISBN
0-88192-192-0
Description
A nice readable book, giving details of habitats and cultural needs for many of the members of this genus, with brief notes on other genera in 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 until germination begins[
239
Title
Gentians.
Publication
 
Author
Köhlein. F.
Publisher
Christopher Helm. London.
Year
1991
ISBN
0-88192-192-0
Description
A nice readable book, giving details of habitats and cultural needs for many of the members of this genus, with brief notes on other genera in 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
Köhlein. F.
Publisher
Christopher Helm. London.
Year
1991
ISBN
0-88192-192-0
Description
A nice readable book, giving details of habitats and cultural needs for many of the members of this genus, with brief notes on other genera in 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
Köhlein. F.
Publisher
Christopher Helm. London.
Year
1991
ISBN
0-88192-192-0
Description
A nice readable book, giving details of habitats and cultural needs for many of the members of this genus, with brief notes on other genera in 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.
].
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-12-10. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Gentiana+decumbens>

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