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Swertia petiolata

Common name:		Family:	Gentianaceae
Author:	Royle. ex D. Don.	Botanical references:	200
Synonyms:
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	E. Asia - Afghanistan to W. Nepal and S.E. Tibet.
Habitat:	Not known
Edibility Rating (1-5):	0	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	2

Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	petiolata = with petioles
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Gentianales. Gentian family

Physical Characteristics

Perennial growing to 0.6m by 0.4m . It is hardy to zone 7. It is in flower from July to August. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs). 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, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It requires moist or wet soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Bog Garden, Woodland, Dappled Shade, Shady Edge.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Antiinflammatory Febrifuge Hepatic.

The entire plant is used in Tibetan medicine, it is considered to have a bitter taste and extremely cooling potency[241]. It is anti-inflammatory, febrifuge and liver tonic[241]. It is used in the treatment of scleritis, inflammation of the liver and high blood pressure, inflammation of the stomach and liver[241].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

Succeeds in a moist humus-rich soil in damp light woodlands, streamsides or the bog garden[200]. Grows best in areas with cool summers[200].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in temperatures not exceeding 10° c in a humus-rich medium[200]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them Tu in early summer.

Suppliers

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

Web References

[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.

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?Swertia+petiolata
This page (US) http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Swertia+petiolata

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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.