Gentiana lutea

Gentiana lutea is a species of flowering plant in the gentian family, native to the mountains of central and southern Europe. Other names for this species include yellow gentian or bitter root. The plant is harvested for its root, which is used to produce a variety of medicinal products.

Description

The Gentiana lutea plant grows to a height of 1–2 m, with broad lanceolate to elliptic leaves 10–30 cm long and 4–12 cm broad. The flowers are yellow, with a five-lobed corolla (petals) 3–4 cm in diameter, and a five-lobed calyx (sepals) 2–3 cm long.

Habitat

Gentiana lutea is native to the mountains of central and southern Europe, including the Alps, Pyrenees, and Balkans. It grows in grassy alpine and sub-alpine pastures, usually on calcareous soils.

Uses

The root of the plant is used in herbal medicine, with a long history of use in treating digestive disorders. The root is also used to make a type of bitter liqueur.

Medicinal Properties

The root of Gentiana lutea contains several active compounds, including secoiridoid glucosides such as gentiopicroside and amarogentin. These compounds are thought to stimulate the production of saliva and gastric juices, improving digestion and appetite.

Cultivation

Gentiana lutea is a hardy perennial plant that prefers full sun or partial shade and well-drained soil. It can be propagated by seed or by division in spring or autumn.

See also

• Gentian
• Herbal medicine
• Medicinal plants

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  Gentiana lutea flower cluster

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  Gentiana lutea illustration from Köhler's Medicinal Plants

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  Amarogentin and gentiopicrin chemical structures