Gentiana pneumonanthe
L.
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: Marsh Gentian
General Information
Gentiana pneumonanthe is a perennial plant that can grow up to 0.30 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials..
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
17- Title
- Flora of the British Isles.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Clapham, Tutin and Warburg.
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Year
- 1962
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
,
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.
Range
Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to Spain, Macedonia, Caucasus and Siberia
Habitat
Boggy meadows, fens, moist heaths and sandy or peaty clearings in woods[
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.
]. Very local and decreasing in Britain[
17- Title
- Flora of the British Isles.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Clapham, Tutin and Warburg.
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Year
- 1962
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
].
Properties
Medicinal Rating |   |
Habit | Perennial |
Height | 0.30 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.
]. This species is calcifuge and requires a humus-rich lime-free soil[
1- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
,
50- Title
- Flora Europaea
- Publication
-
- Author
- ?
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Year
- 1964
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for Europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader.
,
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 not very easy to cultivate and is not very long-lived[
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.
].
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[
1- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
].
A very ornamental plant[
1- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
].
Plants are intolerant of root disturbance and should be placed in their final positions as soon as possible[
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
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[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
]. See G. lutea for more details of potential uses.
Other Uses
A blue dye is obtained from the flowers[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
61- Title
- A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Usher. G.
- Publisher
- Constable
- Year
- 1974
- ISBN
- 0094579202
- Description
- Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.
].
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 requires an acid humus-rich compost and should not be allowed to dry out[
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 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 usually flower in their second year[
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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