Gentiana punctata

Botanical Description

Gentiana punctata is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a rhizomatous rootstock; more or less clump-forming with sturdy erect stems, it usually grows around 20 - 40cm tall, occasionally to 60cm[ 74 Title Flora of the USSR. Publication Author Komarov. V. L. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Israel Program for Scientific Translation Year 1968 ISBN - Description An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ]. The plant is one of the main sources of gentian root (most commonly obtained from Gentiana lutea). It is used as a medicine in particular to treat problems with the digestive tract. It is harvested in quantity from the wild and sold in local markets. The plant is also grown as an ornamental in gardens. Gentiana punctata is rare and/or declining in several countries, but has been reported as stable across central Europe, where population declines are apparently balanced out by equivalent increases. In view of its wide distribution, its presumed large overall population, the fact that it occurs in a number of protected areas, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a threatened category, the plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].