Gentianella quinquefolia
Ague Weed
an annual or biennial member of the Gentianella genus in the family Gentianaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Gentianaceae
- Genus
- Gentianella
- Life cycle
- annual, biennial
- Height
- 0.6 m
- Fertility
- Insects
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
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.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The root is cathartic, febrifuge, haemostatic, stimulant and stomachic[1][4]. A tea or tincture of the root is a bitter tonic, used to stimulate the digestion and a poor appetite[3][4]. An infusion has also been used to treat diarrhoea, sore chest, worms and haemorrhages[4]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the root[5]. It is used in the treatment of intermittent fevers and as a stomachic and tonic[5].
- Product or use
- Bitter
- Product or use
- Cathartic
- Product or use
- Febrifuge
- Product or use
- Haemostatic
- Product or use
- Homeopathy
- Product or use
- Stomachic
- Product or use
- Tonic
Environment
- Range
- Eastern N. America - southern Ontario to Tennessee and Florida.
- Habitat
- Rich woods and moist fields[3].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - must be sown in situ as soon as it is ripe in the autumn[1].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Requires a damp humus-rich soil and should be planted in a situation approaching its native habitat[1].
References
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Livingstone. B. Flora of Canada National Museums of Canada 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-660-00025-3
Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9