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Halenia elliptica

Common name:	Spurred Gentian	Family:	Gentianaceae
Author:	D.Don.	Botanical references:	200, 266
Synonyms:
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	E. Asia - Himalayas from India to China.
Habitat:	Beside streams in valleys, grassland slopes, scrub, forest margins and forests at elevations of 700 - 4,100 metres[266].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	0	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	2

Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	elliptica = elliptic
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Gentianales. Gentian family

Physical Characteristics

Perennial growing to 0.6m. It is hardy to zone 7 and is frost tender. It is in flower from July to August. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs). The plant is self-fertile. We rate it 0/5 for edibility and 2/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. The plant prefers acid soils and can grow in very acid soil. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It requires moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Cultivated Beds.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

The entire plant is used in Tibetan medicine, it is considered to have a bitter taste and a cooling potency[241]. It is cholagogue and febrifuge[241]. It is used in the treatment of liver inflammations, stomach complaints and fevers from contagious diseases[241].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

Requires a cool, damp soil with a pH of 5 - 6, and a position in light shade with protection from strong winds[200].
Plants are not very hardy outdoors in this country and are best treated as frost-tender annuals[200].

Propagation

Seed - best sown in early spring in a cool greenhouse[200]. Only just cover the seed. Prick out into individual pots once the plants are large enough to handle and plant out in late spring after the last expected frosts.

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for the family Gentianaceae.

[CHINA] Data Very detailed botanical/identification info. from the Flora of China.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[241] Tsarong. Tsewang. J. Tibetan Medicinal Plants Tibetan Medical Publications, India 1994 ISBN 81-900489-0-2
A nice little pocket guide to the subject with photographs of 95 species and brief comments on their uses.

[266] Flora of China 1994
On-line version of the Flora - an excellent resource giving basic info on habitat and some uses.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
Website: www.pfaf.org Phone: 0845 458 4719/_44(0) 1208 872963

This page (UK) http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Halenia+elliptica
This page (US) http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Halenia+elliptica

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We make no claims of magical effects or supernatural powers for any item in this catalog. In spite of legendary attributes or occult and craft tradition, such items are offered as curios only and beliefs concerning their magical effectiveness are related only for historical interest.