Common Name:

General Information

Swertia marginata is a herbaceous perennial plant with ascending, usually unbranched stems; it grows around 10 - 55cm tall[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Central and eastern Asia - Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Afghanistan, northeast India, Tibet, southern Siberia, Mongolia, central China

Habitat

Alpine meadows, pebbles, and stony meadows in the high-mountain zone[]

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.20 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Swertia species are generally plants of moderate to high elevations where they are often found on damp slopes and humus-rich, peat mosses. They grow best in areas with cool summers and perennial species are generally cold-hardy to temperatures down to around -15°c[].
Swertia species generally grow well in humus-rich soils in damp, open woodland, by streams or in bog gardens[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The leaves are diuretic and stomachic. They are are used in the treatment of cancer, fevers etc[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow in trays in spring in a humus-rich medium in temperatures not exceeding 10°c[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in early summer.
Division of large clumps in spring, taking care not to damage any taproots[].