Gelber Enzian
Gentiana lutea
Summary 6
Gentiana lutea (great yellow gentian) is a species of gentian native to the mountains of central and southern Europe. Other names include 'yellow gentian', 'bitter root', 'bitterwort', 'centiyane', 'genciana', and "the Devil's taint".
Growth 7
G. lutea is an herbaceousperennial plant, growing to 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft) tall, with broad lanceolate to elliptic leaves 10–30 cm (3.9–11.8 in) long and 4–12 cm (1.6–4.7 in) broad. The flowers are yellow, with the corolla separated nearly to the base into 5–7 narrow petals. It grows in grassy alpine and sub-alpine pastures, usually on calcareous soils.
Uses 7
G. lutea is remarkable for the intense bitterness of the root and every part of the herbage. Before the introduction of hops, gentian was used occasionally in brewing. It is a principal ingredient in Angostura bitters.
Gentian root has a long history of use as an herbal bitter and is an ingredient of many proprietary medicines. The parts used include the dried, underground parts of the plant and the fresh, above-ground parts. The root, which can be over 5 cm (2.0 in) thick and has few branches, is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use. Caution should be exercised as to its use because it is endangered, and the closely related Centaurium erythraea shares many of its constituents and actions.
The name is a tribute to Gentius, an Illyrian king who was thought to have found out that the herb had tonic properties.
In veterinary pharmacopeia in the 1860s, gentian root or gentian radix was considered useful as a tonic and stomachic.
Extracts of gentian root can be found in the Americansoft drinkMoxie, and its unique flavor is attributed to that fact. It is also used in France to produce a Limousin specialty liqueur and aperitif, with plants gathered from the Auvergne area.
The European Gentian Association in Lausanne, Cercle Européen d'Etude des Gentianacées, has the objective to develop the knowledge and uses of yellow gentian and other species of Gentianaceae.
The Gentiana lutea is depicted on the reverse of the Albanian 2000 lekë banknote, issued in 2008. The note depicts king Gentius on its obverse.
The bitter principles of gentian root are secoiridoid glycosidesamarogentin and gentiopicrin. The former is one of the most bitter natural compounds known and is used as a scientific basis for measuring bitterness.
Chemical constituents 7
The bitter principles of gentian root are secoiridoid glycosidesamarogentin and gentiopicrin. The former is one of the most bitter natural compounds known and is used as a scientific basis for measuring bitterness.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Jordi Roy Gabarra, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), https://www.flickr.com/photos/trempoli/4768918195/
- (c) Udo Schmidt, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/coleoptera-us/5909894476/
- (c) Udo Schmidt, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/coleoptera-us/5909890394/
- (c) José María Escolano, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/valdelobos/7489232212/
- (c) José María Escolano, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/valdelobos/7489234654/
- Adapted by Bea Steinemann from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentiana_lutea
- (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentiana_lutea
More Info
- iNat taxon page
- Biodiversity Heritage Library
- BOLD Systems BIN search
- eFloras.org
- Flora Digital de Portugal
- Flora of North America (beta)
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
- HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
- IPNI (with links to POWO, WFO, and BHL)
- NatureServe Explorer 2.0
- SEINet Symbiota portals
- Tropicos
- VASCAN by Canadensys
- World Flora Online
