willow gentian
Gentiana asclepiadea
The roots of the willow gentian contain gentiopicrin, one of the bitterest natural substances known to science, once used to brew traditional mountain tonics.
- Scientific name
- Gentiana asclepiadea
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Gentianales › Gentianaceae › Gentiana
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Moist, shady deciduous and coniferous forests, woodland margins, and damp alpine meadows.
- Diet
- Autotrophic (photosynthesis, absorbing water and minerals from moist, rich soils).
- Range
- Alps, Carpathians, Central Europe, Eastern Europe, Caucasus
- Size
- 60 to 100 cm tall, with arching stems.
- Lifespan
- 10-15 years (perennial)
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation, intensive forestry practices, and localized overgrazing.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. Admire its deep blue, trumpet-shaped flowers from a safe distance to avoid trampling the surrounding forest understory. Do not ingest any part of the plant, as it contains intense bitter glycosides that can cause mild gastrointestinal upset. No treatment is needed for physical skin contact.
Gentiana asclepiadea , the willow gentian , is a species of flowering plant of the genus Gentiana in the family Gentianaceae, native to central and eastern Europe from primarily mountain (montane) woodland though it does occur in less wooded open pasture in some areas, perhaps persisting after woodland clearance.
Photo: Gernot Hochmueller, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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