Common Name:

General Information

Gentiana septemfida is a mat-forming herbaceous perennial plant producing several to many, prostrate to ascending, unbranched leafy stems; it can grow 15 - 30cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. It is often grown as an ornamental, there are many named forms.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

W. Asia - Turkey, the Caucasus, Iraq and Iran

Habitat

Various habitats, mostly dry, at subalpine and alpine elevations[]. Alpine meadows and fir (Abies) forest where the soil is moist.

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.25 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Gentiana septemfida is native to the Alpine zone in the temperate regions of western Asia. A very cold-tolerant plant, when fully dormant it can withstand temperatures down to about -35°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 is one of the easiest species to please and very garden worthy; long-lived and readily raised from spring cuttings or seed[].
Plants are intolerant of root disturbance[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

A decoction of the roots is used to treat malaria and stomach problems[].

An infusion of the leaves is used as cholagogic to treat stomach pain, liver and gallbladder ailments[, ].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown in late Summer to early Autumn 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.