Practical
Plants

Gentiana macrophylla

Qin Jiao

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.6 m
Spread
0.6 m
Fertility
Bumblebees, Butterflies
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bumblebees, Butterflies

Uses

Edible uses

Leaves - cooked[4]. An emergency food, used when all else fails.

Plant part
Leaves

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.

Qin Jiao has been used in Chinese herbalism for over 2,000 years and, like other members of this genus, the roots contain some of the most bitter compounds known and make an excellent tonic for the whole digestive system, working especially on the stomach, liver and gall bladder[7][9]. The root is analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antirheumatic, diuretic, febrifuge, hypoglycaemic and hypotensive[3][6][7]. The root is used internally in the treatment of digestive problems, arthritis, allergic inflammations, low-grade fever in chronic diseases, jaundice and hepatitis[3][6][7][9]. The root is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use.

Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Antiinflammatory
Product or use
Antipyretic
Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Hypotensive

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Siberia.
Habitat
Steppes and glades in light woods[11]. Stream and river banks, roadsides, grassland slopes, wet meadows, forest margins, forests at elevations of 400 - 2400 metres[10]..
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a light position in a cold frame[5]. It can also be sown in late winter or early spring but the seed germinates best if given a period of cold stratification and quickly loses viability when stored, with older seed germinating slowly and erratically[5][8]. It is advantageous to keep the seed at about 10°c for a few days after sowing, to enable the seed to imbibe moisture[8]. Following this with a period of at least 5 - 6 weeks with temperatures falling to between 0 and -5°c will usually produce reasonable germination[8]. It is best to use clay pots, since plastic ones do not drain so freely and the moister conditions encourage the growth of moss, which will prevent germination of the seed[8]. The seed should be surface-sown, or only covered with a very light dressing of compost. The seed requires dark for germination, so the pots should be covered with something like newspaper or be kept in the dark[8]. Pot up the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow on in light shade in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. The seedlings grow on very slowly, taking 2 - 7 years to reach flowering size[8]. When the plants are of sufficient size, place them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. Division in March[2]. Most members of this genus have either a single tap-root, or a compact root system united in a single root head, and are thus unsuitable for division[8]. Cuttings of basal shoots in late spring[7].

Cultivation

In general, gentians 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[8]. 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[5][8]. Most species will grow well in the rock garden[5]. This species requires a moist well-drained neutral to acid soil in a sheltered position[5][7]. It prefers full sun but succeeds in partial shade[2]. Plants are hardy to at least -15°c[7]. 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[1]. Plants are intolerant of root disturbance[5].

References

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

    ↩

  2. Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  4. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  6. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2

  7. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  8. Kohlein. F. Gentians. Christopher Helm. London. 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-192-0

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9

  9. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2

  10. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩

  11. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩

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