Gentiana pannonica 

'Hungarian Gentian'

[Ex. Hochschwab 1550 m., Austria]

Gentianaceae: a perennial to 60cm. Found in meadows and pastures, screes and grassy bottoms of alpine corries, amongst dwarf pine and in forests. The flowers are purple with red-black freckles, blooming July-August. It has an overall appearance like G. punctata, but stems lack the metallic lustre. Native to Mountains of central Europe to Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia.

USES:

The root is sometimes used in the manufacture of gentian bitters.

This species is one of several that are the source of the medicinal gentian root. Gentian root has a long history of use as an herbal bitter in the treatment of digestive disorders and is an ingredient of many proprietary medicines. It contains some of the most bitter compounds known and is used as a scientific basis for measuring bitterness. It is especially useful in states of exhaustion from chronic disease and in 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 is an excellent tonic to combine with a purgative to prevent its debilitating effects. The root has anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, bitter tonic, cholagogue, emmenagogue, febrifuge, refrigerant, and stomachic properties.

GROWING INFORMATION:

A cold-germinator. The sowing must be kept warm (about +18 to +22°C) and moist for the first 2–4 weeks. After this period, the sowing must be kept at a cold temperature (between –4 and +4°C) for another 4–6 weeks. After this cooling-period the sowing may not be immediately exposed to high temperatures. The most effective temperatures are between +5 to +12°C even if germination has started. The best location for this sowing, even in March, April and May, is the open field, the cold frame or a cold greenhouse.

Plants 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. 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. Does 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.

HARVESTED: 2019

 

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