Kingdom:
Phylum:
Angiosperms
Order:
Gentianales
Genus:
Species:
alata
ID:
1064535

Status:
valid

Authors:
(D.Don ex G.Don) Royle ex C.B.Clarke

Source:
tro

Year:
1883

Citation Micro:
Fl. Brit. India 4: 125 (1883)

WFO Identifier:
wfo-0001063873

Common Names

  • Winged Gentian
  • Alata Gentian
  • Gentiana Alata

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Description

Swertia alata (also called Chinese gentian, among many other common names) is a perennial herbaceous plant native to China, Japan, and Korea. It grows in moist meadows, grasslands, and forests at elevations of 500–3,000 m. It has a short stem and its leaves are lanceolate and serrated. Its flowers are yellow-green and tubular in shape.

Uses & Benefits

Swertia alata is used as a traditional Chinese medicine for treating fever, headache, and other ailments. It is also used as an ornamental plant in gardens.

Flower, Seeds and Seedlings

Flower: Yellowish-green, tubular, 5-lobed, about 1 cm long. Seed: Small, ovoid, black. Seedlings: Cotyledons oblong, about 2 cm long, petioles short.

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Cultivation and Propagation

Swertia alata is a hardy, evergreen perennial that is native to China. It can be propagated by division or from seed. It prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. It is tolerant of a wide range of soil types and pH levels. It can be grown in containers or in the ground.

Where to Find Swertia alata

Swertia alata is native to China and can be found in the provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou.

Species in the Swertia genus

Swertia zeylanica, Swertia wattii, Swertia welwitschii, Swertia woodii, Swertia yezo-alpina, Swertia steenisii, Swertia striata, Swertia swertopsis, Swertia tashiroi, Swertia taylorii, Swertia lurida, Swertia staintonii, Swertia mildbraedii, Swertia mileensis, Swertia thomsonii, Swertia iberica, Swertia grandiflora, Swertia lastii, Swertia lactea, Swertia japonica, Swertia lawii, Swertia leduci, Swertia longifolis, Swertia juzepczukii, Swertia javanica, Swertia scottii, Swertia schimperi, Swertia schugnanica, Swertia punctata, Swertia ramosa, Swertia volkensii, Swertia pumila, Swertia papuana, Swertia nepalensis, Swertia oxyphylla, Swertia obtusa, Swertia pseudochinensis, Swertia polynectaria, Swertia pseudohookeri, Swertia perennis, Swertia piloglandulosa, Swertia pinetorum, Swertia alternifolia, Swertia acaulis, Swertia densifolia, Swertia crassiuscula, Swertia crossoloma, Swertia decurrens, Swertia fedtschenkoana, Swertia corymbosa,

Species in the Gentianaceae family

Adenolisianthus arboreus, Anthocleista amplexicaulis, Anthocleista djalonensis, Anthocleista grandiflora, Anthocleista inermis, Anthocleista laxiflora, Anthocleista liebrechtsiana, Anthocleista longifolia, Anthocleista madagascariensis, Anthocleista microphylla, Anthocleista nobilis, Anthocleista obanensis, Anthocleista procera, Anthocleista scandens, Anthocleista schweinfurthii, Anthocleista vogelii, Anthocleista potalioides, Aripuana cullmaniorum, Bartonia paniculata, Bartonia verna, Bartonia virginica, Bisgoeppertia robustior, Bisgoeppertia gracilis, Bisgoeppertia scandens, Blackstonia acuminata, Blackstonia grandiflora, Blackstonia imperfoliata, Blackstonia perfoliata, Calolisianthus amplissimus, Calolisianthus pedunculatus, Canscora alata, Canscora andrographioides, Canscora concanensis, Canscora diffusa, Canscora heteroclita, Canscora macrocalyx, Canscora pauciflora, Canscora perfoliata, Canscora roxburghii, Canscora schultesii, Canscora stricta, Canscora bidoupensis, Canscora bhatiana, Canscora shrirangiana, Canscora ciathula, Canscora tetraptera, Celiantha bella, Celiantha chimantensis, Celiantha imthurniana, Centaurium ameghinoi,

References

David Don (1799-1841): Based on occurrence of standard abbreviation 'D.Don' in the authors string.
John Forbes Royle (1799-1858): Based on occurrence of standard abbreviation 'Royle' in the authors string.
POWO record for urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:370786-1: Based on the WCVP April 2023 data release.