Gentiana scabra

Bunge

Japanese Gentian

Gentianaceae Edible: Leaves ? Potential hazards — see below 404 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Gentiana scabra, also known as the Japanese gentian or the Rindō Flower, is a species of flowering plant in the Gentian family (Gentianaceae), found in much of East Asia. The flowers bloom in mid-summer, autumn and are blue or dark blue in color.

Description

A herb. It grows 30 cm high and 20 cm wide. The stems are leafy. The leaves are in pairs and oval to sword shaped. They are 3.5 cm long. The flowers are deep blue. They are often in pairs in the axils of leaves or in clusters at the ends of branches.

Edible Uses

Young plants and older leaves can be eaten cooked. This is regarded as a famine food, used when other options are exhausted.

Traditional Uses

The young leaves are cooked with vegetables.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

Known in Chinese herbalism as Long Dan Cao, this plant is used as a bitter tonic that promotes digestive secretions and treats a range of liver-related conditions. The root is antibacterial and stomachic, used in the treatment of anorexia, dyspepsia, jaundice, leucorrhoea, eczema, conjunctivitis, sore throat, acute infection of the urinary system, and hypertension accompanied by dizziness and tinnitus. The root is harvested in autumn and dried for later use. This species is also among several that serve as sources of medicinal gentian root more broadly; the following reflects the general uses of G. lutea, the most commonly used species in the West. Gentian root has a long history as a herbal bitter in the treatment of digestive disorders and is an ingredient in many proprietary medicines. It contains some of the most bitter compounds known and serves as a scientific benchmark for measuring bitterness. It is especially useful in states of exhaustion from chronic disease and in cases of debility, weakness of the digestive system, and poor appetite. It is one of the finest strengtheners of the human system, stimulating the liver, gall bladder, and digestive system, and combines well with a purgative to offset that treatment's debilitating effects. The root is anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, bitter tonic, cholagogue, emmenagogue, febrifuge, refrigerant, and stomachic. Taken internally, it treats liver complaints, indigestion, gastric infections, and anorexia. It should not be prescribed for patients with gastric or duodenal ulcers. Roots from plants that have not yet flowered are thought to be the richest in medicinal properties.

Known Hazards

Should not be prescribed for patients with gastric or duodenal ulcers.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. In eastern China it grows along river banks and in moist grasslands between 400-1,700 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Asia, China, Japan, Korea, Russia,

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. 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. Most species will grow well in the rock garden. This species requires a moist well-drained neutral to acid soil. Another report says that it is happy in any reasonable soil. 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. A very ornamental plant. Plants are intolerant of root disturbance.

Propagation

Seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a light position in a cold frame. It can also be sown in late winter or early spring, though germination is best after a period of cold stratification; stored seed loses viability quickly, with older seed germinating slowly and erratically. Keeping seed at around 10°c for a few days after sowing allows it to absorb moisture. Following this with at least 5–6 weeks of temperatures between 0 and -5°c will usually produce reasonable germination. Clay pots are preferable to plastic, as plastic drains less freely and the resulting moisture encourages moss growth that can prevent germination. Sow seed on the surface or cover with only the lightest dressing of compost. Seed requires darkness to germinate, so cover pots with newspaper or keep them in the dark. Pot 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. Seedlings are slow-growing, taking 2–7 years to reach flowering size. Move plants to their permanent positions in late spring or early summer once large enough. Division in March is possible, though most members of this genus have either a single tap-root or a compact root system united in a single root head, making them generally unsuitable for division. Basal shoot cuttings can be taken in late spring.

Other Uses

None known.

Notes

There are about 400 Gentiana species. It is used in medicine.

Also Known As

Long Dan Cao, Yongdam

References (4)

Brown, D., 2002, The Royal Horticultural Society encyclopedia of Herbs and their uses. DK Books. p 223
Kim, H. & Song, M., 2013, Ethnobotanical analysis for traditional knowledge of wild edible plants in North Jeolla Province (Korea). Genetic. Resour. Crop Evol. (2013) 60:1571-1585
Mem. Acad. Imp. Sci. St.-Petersbourg Divers Savans 2:536. 1835
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/