Gentian
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{{Taxobox | color = lightgreen | name = Gentian | image = Gentian from slovakia.JPG | image_width = 250px | image_caption = Stemless gentian (Gentiana acaulis) | regnum = Plantae | divisio = Magnoliophyta | classis = Magnoliopsida | ordo = Gentianales | familia = Gentianaceae | genus = Gentiana L. | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = See text. }}
- For the cultivated flower known as a Gentian or Tulip Gentian see Eustoma.
Gentian (Gentiana) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the Gentian family (Gentianaceae), tribe Gentianeae and monophyletic subtribe Gentianinae. This a large genus, with about 400 species.
Image:Gentiana.frigida1.jpg This is a cosmopolitan genus, occurring in alpine habitats of temperate regions of Asia, Europe and the Americas. Some species also occur in northwest Africa, eastern Australia and New Zealand. They consist of annual, biennial and perennial plants. Some are evergreen, others are not.
Their leaves are arranged in an opposite way. Most of them belong to a basal rosette. Gentians have trumpet-shaped flowers which are usually deep blue or azure, but may vary from white, creamy and yellow to red. Blue-flowered species predominate in the Northern Hemisphere, and red in the Andes; white-flowered species are scattered but dominate in New Zealand. These terminal tubular flowers are mostly pentamerous, i.e. with 5 corolla lobes (petals), and 5 sepals, but 4-7 in some species. The style is rather short or absent. The corolla shows folds (= plicae) between the lobes. The ovary is mostly sessile and has nectary glands.
Image:1ec oes.png Gentians are fully hardy and like full sun or partial shade, and neutral to acid soil that is rich in humus and well drained. They are popular in rock gardens.
According to Pliny the Elder Gentian is named after Gentius (180-68 BC), the King of Illyria, said to have discovered its healing properties. Some species are of medicinal use and their roots were harvested for the manufacture of tonic liquor, for instance in France "Suze" or similar liquors. Gentian is also used as a flavouring, for example in bitters, and the soft drink "Moxie" which contains "Gentian Root Extractives".
- Species
Image:Gentiana amarella L ag1.jpg Image:Gentiana.andrewsii1.jpg Image:Gentiana asclepiadea L ag1.jpg Image:Gentiana-calycosa1web.jpg
Reference
 Bottle Gentian (Gentiana clausa) |
 Great Yellow Gentian (Gentiana lutea) |
 Parry's Gentian (Gentiana parryi) |
 Marsh Gentian (Gentiana pneumonanthe) |
 Crested Gentian (Gentiana septemfida) |
 Spring Gentian (Gentiana verna) |
 Rainier Pleated Gentian (Gentiana calycosa) |
Template:Commonsbg:Тинтява de:Enziane eo:Genciano fr:Gentiane it:Gentiana nl:Gentiaan ja:リンドウ pl:Goryczka sv:Gentianor