Common Name: Marsh Gentian

General Information

Gentiana pneumonanthe is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a short, stout, cylindrical rootstock; it produces a tuft of growth with one to a few erect flowering stems around 25 - 50cm tall, occasionally reaching 65cm[]..
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials. It is grown as an ornamental, there are several named forms[].
Although Gentiana pneumonanthe is rare, it is relatively widespread in Europe. Populations are decreasing and its habitat is threatened, but this is unlikely to cause a fast enough decline to qualify for listing in a threatened category in the near future.The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Eurasia - western Europe to Turkey, the Caucasus, Kazakhstan and western Siberia

Habitat

Boggy meadows, fens, moist heaths and sandy or peaty clearings in woods[]. Wet meadows, acidic grassland, peaty marshes, peatlands, swamps, wet heaths and open wet forests[]. Very local and decreasing in Britain[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.30 m
Pollinators	Bumblebees, butterFlies
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Gentiana pneumonanthe is native to mountainous regions in the temperate zone of Europe and western Asia. A very cold-tolerant plant, when fully dormant it can withstand temperatures down to about -30°c[].
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[]. This species is calcifuge and requires a humus-rich lime-free soil[, , ]. It is not very easy to cultivate and is not very long-lived[].
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[].
A very ornamental and long-lived plant[, ]. This species is not generally long-lived in cultivation, though it commences flowering in its second year of growth from seed[].
Plants are intolerant of root disturbance and should be placed in their final positions as soon as possible[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Although we have no record of medicinal use for this species, like most other members of this genus the root probably contains various bitter compounds and can be used as a general tonic for the digestive system[]. See Gentiana lutea for more details of potential uses.

Other Uses

A blue dye is obtained from the flowers[, ].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a light position in a cold frame[]. It requires an acid humus-rich compost and should not be allowed to dry out[]. The seed 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 is apparent[]. 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 usually flower in their second year[]. 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[].