Status:
valid
Authors:
C.B.Clarke
Source:
tro
Year:
1883
Citation Micro:
Fl. Brit. India 4: 22 (1883)
WFO Identifier:
wfo-0001063923
Common Names
- Dilatata Gentian
- Dilatata Swertia
- Dilatata Swert
Description
Swertia dilatata (also called Dilated Gentian, among many other common names) is a herbaceous perennial plant found in the Himalayas. It has a stout stem and grows up to 60 cm tall. The leaves are opposite, ovate to lanceolate, and the flowers are white or yellow. It is found in moist meadows, grassy slopes, and open woodlands.
Uses & Benefits
Swertia dilatata has been used as an ornamental plant and as a source of food for livestock. It has also been used in traditional Chinese medicine for its anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties.
Cultivars, Varieties & Sub-species
Swertia dilatata var. pilosa C.B.Clarke
Swertia dilatata var. dilatata
Flower, Seeds and Seedlings
The flower of Swertia dilatata is yellow with five petals. The seed is small, round, and black. The seedlings are small, thin, and green.
Cultivation and Propagation
Swertia dilatata is a perennial herb that can be grown from seed or cuttings. Seeds should be sown in spring or early summer in a well-drained soil. Cuttings can be taken in late spring or early summer and should be placed in a moist, well-drained soil. The plant prefers full sun to partial shade and should be kept moist but not wet.
Where to Find Swertia dilatata
Swertia dilatata is native to China and can be found in the Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, growing in moist meadows, grasslands, and along stream banks.
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,