Practical
Plants

Frasera speciosa

Green Gentian

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Frasera
Life cycle
biennial, perennial
Height
1.5 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

When used medicinally, large doses of the powdered root have proved fatal[4].

Edible uses

Root[2][3][4][5]. It has been reported that the N. American Indians ate the fleshy root of this plant, but caution is advised since the roots of closely related plants are used medicinally as emetics and cathartics[7]. See the notes above on toxicity.

Plant part
Root

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

The whole plant is febrifuge, pectoral, laxative and tonic[4][9]. An infusion of the dried, powdered leaves, or the root, has been used in the treatment of diarrhoea[9]. A cooled decoction of the roots has been used in the treatment of asthma, colds, digestive complaints etc[9]. An infusion of the plant has been used as a contraceptive[8]. Caution is advised in the use of this plant, see the notes above on toxicity.

Product or use
Contraceptive
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Laxative
Product or use
Stomachic
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

The root, when ground into a powder and then mixed with oil, has been used as a parasiticide in order to kill lice[4].

Product or use
Parasiticide

Environment

Range
Western N. America - California to Washington.
Habitat
Dryish or dampish places[10]. Rich soils in open pine woods, aspen groves etc, 1500 - 3000 metres[4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse[6]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in late winter[6].

Cultivation

Requires a moist but well-drained position and a stony peaty soil[1][6]. Requires an acidic soil[6]. A very ornamental plant[1].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Coon. N. The Dictionary of Useful Plants. Rodale Press 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-090-x

    ↩

  4. Arnberger. L. P. Flowers of the Southwest Mountains. Southwestern Monuments Ass. 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  5. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

    ↩

  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  7. Craighead. J., Craighead. F. and Davis. R. A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers The Riverside Press 1963-00-00 ISBN 63-7093

    ↩

  8. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩

  9. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  10. Munz. A California Flora. University of California Press 1959-00-00

    ↩

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