Common Name: Spotted Gentian

General Information

Gentiana punctata is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a rhizomatous rootstock; more or less clump-forming with sturdy erect stems, it usually grows around 20 - 40cm tall, occasionally to 60cm[].
The plant is one of the main sources of gentian root (most commonly obtained from Gentiana lutea). It is used as a medicine in particular to treat problems with the digestive tract. It is harvested in quantity from the wild and sold in local markets. The plant is also grown as an ornamental in gardens.
Gentiana punctata is rare and/or declining in several countries, but has been reported as stable across central Europe, where population declines are apparently balanced out by equivalent increases. In view of its wide distribution, its presumed large overall population, the fact that it occurs in a number of protected areas, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a threatened category, the plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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Range

Mountainous regions of southern and southeastern Europe.

Habitat

Stony pastures, the grassy bottoms of mountain corries, screes and moraines, among rhododendrons and in conifer woods, on both limestone and igneous rocks; at elevations above 1,500 metres[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.60 m
Pollinators	Bumblebees, butterFlies
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Gentiana punctata is native to mountainous regions in the temperate zone of southern Europe, where it can be found at elevations above 1,500 metres. A very cold-tolerant plant, when fully dormant it can withstand temperatures down to about -25°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[]. This species is not particular about soil type, so long as it is deep enough to accommodate the plant's roots[].
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[].
Plants are intolerant of root disturbance[].

Edible Uses

The root has an intensely bitter flavour and this is one of several Gentian species (Gentiana lutea is the most commonly used) that can used in the manufacture of bitter liqueurs, known as gentian bitters or gentian brandy. These liqueurs stimulate the flow of bile and improve digestion. They are used as appetizers, or are drunk when eating heavy, fatty foods in order to aid digestion. They are also used to flavour rice dishes[].

Medicinal

This species is one of many in the genus that are a rich source of the bitter-tasting secoiridoid glucosides - these compounds have a proven efficacy in the treatment of problems related to the digestive system. The plant has a thick rootstock that can be up to 100cm long, and is widely used to produce a range of proprietary medicines[]. The following notes are based on the general uses of Gentiana lutea which is the most commonly used species in the West[].
Gentian root has a long history of use as a herbal bitter in the treatment of digestive disorders and is an ingredient of many proprietary medicines. It contains the glycosides 'gentiopicrin' and 'amarogentin' - these are some of the most bitter compounds known and are used as a scientific basis for measuring bitterness[, ].
The root is especially useful in relieving states of exhaustion from chronic disease and in the treatment all cases of debility, weakness of the digestive system and lack of appetite[]. It is one of the best strengtheners of the human system, stimulating the liver, gall bladder and digestive system and helping to regulate the thyroid gland[], and is an excellent tonic to combine with the use of a purgative in order to prevent its debilitating effects[].
The root is anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, bitter tonic, cholagogue, emmenagogue, febrifuge, refrigerant and stomachic[, , , , , ]. It is taken internally as a general tonic, appetiser and digestive, and also in the treatment of liver complaints, indigestion, gastric infections and anorexia[].
The root should not be prescribed for patients with gastric or duodenal ulcers[].
The root, which can be as thick as a person's arm and has few branches[], is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use[]. It is quite likely that the roots of plants that have not flowered are the richest in medicinal properties[].

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 in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. The seedlings grow on very slowly, taking 2 - 7 years to reach flowering size[]. 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[].