Gentian 58003 224553510 2008-07-09T11:21:04Z Tlustulimu 5398931 correction of interwiki {{otheruses}} {{Taxobox | name = Gentian | image = Gentiana-verna2.jpg | image_width = 250px | image_caption = ''Gentiana verna'' | regnum = [[Plant]]ae | divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]] | classis = [[Magnoliopsida]] | ordo = [[Gentianales]] | familia = [[Gentianaceae]] | genus = '''''Gentiana''''' [[Carolus Linaeus|L.]] | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = See text. }} '''''Gentiana''''' is a genus of [[flowering plant]]s belonging to the Gentian family ([[Gentianaceae]]), tribe Gentianeae and monophyletic subtribe Gentianinae. This a large genus, with about 400 species. [[Image:Gentiana.frigida1.jpg|thumb|left|Gentiana frigida]] 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. Gentians have opposite [[Leaf|leaves]] that are sometimes arranged in a basal rosette, and trumpet-shaped [[flower]]s that are usually deep blue or azure, but may vary from white, creamy and yellow to red. Many species also show considerable [[polymorphism (biology)|polymorphism]] with respect to flower color. Typically, blue-flowered species predominate in the Northern Hemisphere, with red-flowered species dominant in the [[Andes]] (where bird pollination is probably more heavily favored by natural selection). White-flowered species are scattered throughout the range of the genus but dominate in New Zealand. All gentian species have terminal tubular flowers and most are pentamerous, i.e. with 5 [[Corolla (flower)|corolla]] lobes ([[petal]]s), and 5 [[sepal]]s, 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. Many gentians are difficult to grow outside their wild habitat, but several species are available in cultivation. 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 garden]]s. According to [[Pliny the Elder]], ''Gentian'' is an eponym of [[King Gentius|Gentius]] (180-168 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". <br clear = left> ==Species== {| |- valign=top | *''[[Gentiana acaulis]]'' ('Stemless Gentian') *''[[Gentiana affinis]]'' ('Pleated Gentian') *''[[Gentiana alba]]'' ('Plain Gentian') *''[[Gentiana algida]]'' ('Whitish Gentian') *''[[Gentiana alpina]]'' ('Alpine Gentian') *''[[Gentiana altaica]]'' ('Altai Gentian') *''[[Gentiana amarella]]'' ('Autumn Dwarf Gentian') *''[[Gentiana amoena]]'' *''[[Gentiana andrewsii]]'' ('Closed bottle Gentian') *''[[Gentiana angustifolia]]'' *''[[Gentiana asclepiadea]]'' ('Willow Gentian') *''[[Gentiana austromontana]]'' ('Appalachian Gentian') *''[[Gentiana autumnalis]]'' ('Pinebarren Gentian') *''[[Gentiana bavarica]]'' ('Bavarian Gentian') *''[[Gentiana bellidifolia]]'' *''[[Gentiana boryi]]'' *''[[Gentiana brachyphylla]]'' *''[[Gentiana bulleyana]]'' *''[[Gentiana burseri]]'' *''[[Gentiana cachemirica]]'' *''[[Gentiana calycosa]]'' ('Rainier Pleated Gentian') *''[[Gentiana catesbaei]]'' ('Elliott's Gentian') *''[[Gentiana cephalantha]]'' *''[[Gentiana cerina]]'' *''[[Gentiana clausa]]'' ('Bottled Gentian') *''[[Gentiana clusii]]'' ('Trumpet Gentian') *''[[Gentiana crassicaulis]]'' *''[[Gentiana crinita]]'' ('Fringed Gentian') *''[[Gentiana cruciata]]'' ('Cross Gentian') *''[[Gentiana dahurica]]'' *''[[Gentiana decora]]'' ('Showy Gentian') *''[[Gentiana decumbens]]'' *''[[Gentiana dendrologii]]'' *''[[Gentiana depressa]]'' *''[[Gentiana dinarica]]'' *''[[Gentiana douglasiana]]'' ('Swamp Gentian') *''[[Gentiana elwesii]]'' *''[[Gentiana farreri]]'' *''[[Gentiana fetisowii]]'' *''[[Gentiana flavida]]'' ('Pale Gentian') *''[[Gentiana freyniana]]'' *''[[Gentiana frigida]]'' *''[[Gentiana froelichii]]'' *''[[Gentiana fremontii]]'' ('Moss Gentian') *''[[Gentiana gelida]]'' *''[[Gentiana gilvo-striata]]'' *''[[Gentiana glauca]]'' ('Pale Gentian') *''[[Gentiana gracilipes]]'' *''[[Gentiana grombczewskii]]'' *''[[Gentiana heterosepala]]'' ('Autumn Gentian') *''[[Gentiana hexaphylla]]'' *''[[Gentiana kesselringii]]'' *''[[Gentiana kurroo]]'' *''[[Gentiana lawrencii]]'' *''[[Gentiana lhassica]]'' *''[[Gentiana linearis]]'' ('Narrowleaf Gentian') *''[[Gentiana loderi]]'' *''[[Gentiana lutea]]'' ('Great Yellow Gentian') *''[[Gentiana macrophylla]]'' ('Bigleaf Gentian') *''[[Gentiana makinoi]]'' *''[[Gentiana microdonta]]'' *''[[Gentiana newberryi]]'' ('Newberry's Gentian') *''[[Gentiana nipponica]]'' *''[[Gentiana nivalis]]'' ('Snow Gentian') | *''[[Gentiana nubigena]]'' *''[[Gentiana nutans]]'' ('Tundra Gentian') *''[[Gentiana ochroleuca]]'' *''[[Gentiana olivieri]]'' *''[[Gentiana ornata]]'' *''[[Gentiana pannonica]]'' ('Brown Gentian') *''[[Gentiana paradoxa]]'' *''[[Gentiana parryi]]'' ('Parry's Gentian') *''[[Gentiana patula]]'' *''[[Gentiana pennelliana]]'' ('Wiregrass Gentian') *''[[Gentiana phyllocalyx]]'' *''[[Gentiana platypetala]]'' ('Broadpetal Gentian') *''[[Gentiana plurisetosa]]'' ('Bristly Gentian') *''[[Gentiana pneumonanthe]]'' ('Marsh Gentian') *''[[Gentiana prolata]]'' *''[[Gentiana prostrata]]'' ('Pygmy Gentian') *''[[Gentiana przewalskii]]'' *''[[Gentiana pterocalyx]]'' *''[[Gentiana puberulenta]]'' ('Downy Gentian') *''[[Gentiana pumila]]'' *''[[Gentiana punctata]]'' ('Spotted Gentian') *''[[Gentiana purpurea]]'' ('Purple Gentian') *''[[Gentiana pyrenaica]]'' *''[[Gentiana quadrifolia]]'' *''[[Gentiana rigescens]]'' *''[[Gentiana rostanii]]'' *''[[Gentiana rubricaulis]]'' ('Closed Gentian') *''[[Gentiana saponaria]]'' ('Harvestbells Gentian') *''[[Gentiana saxosa]]'' *''[[Gentiana scabra]]'' *''[[Gentiana scarlatina]]'' *''[[Gentiana sceptrum]]'' ('King's scepter Gentian') *''[[Gentiana septemfida]]'' ('Crested Gentian') *''[[Gentiana setigera]]'' ('Mendocino Gentian') *''[[Gentiana setulifolia]]'' *''[[Gentiana sikkimensis]]'' *''[[Gentiana sikokiana]]'' *''[[Gentiana sino-ornata]]'' *''[[Gentiana siphonantha]]'' *''[[Gentiana speciosa]]'' *''[[Gentiana squarrosa]]'' *''[[Gentiana stictantha]]'' *''[[Gentiana stragulata]]'' *''[[Gentiana straminea]]'' *''[[Gentiana tenuifolia]]'' *''[[Gentiana terglouensis]]'' ('Triglav Gentian') *''[[Gentiana ternifolia]]'' *''[[Gentiana tianshanica]]'' ('Tienshan Gentian') *''[[Gentiana trichotoma]]'' *''[[Gentiana triflora]]'' *''[[Gentiana trinervis]]'' *''[[Gentiana tubiflora]]'' *''[[Gentiana utriculosa]]'' ('Bladder Gentian') *''[[Gentiana veitchiorum]]'' *''[[Gentiana venusta]]'' *''[[Gentiana verna]]'' ('Spring Gentian') *''[[Gentiana villosa]]'' ('Striped Gentian') *''[[Gentiana waltonii]]'' *''[[Gentiana wutaiensis]]'' *''[[Gentiana yakushimensis]]'' *''[[Gentiana zollingeri]]'' | [[Image:Gentiana amarella L ag1.jpg|thumb| none |Autumn Gentian ('' Gentiana amarella '')]] [[Image:Gentiana.andrewsii1.jpg|thumb| none |Closed Bottle Gentian (''Gentiana andrewsii'')]] [[Image:Gentiana-calycosa1web.jpg|thumb| none |Rainier Pleated Gentian (''Gentiana calycosa'')]] [[Image: Gentiana_lutea_230705.jpg|thumb| none |Great Yellow Gentian (''Gentiana lutea'') ]] [[Image: Gentiana pneumonanthe L ag1.jpg|thumb| none |Marsh Gentian (''Gentiana pneumonanthe'') ]] | [[Image:Gentiana asclepiadea L ag1.jpg|thumb| none |Willow Gentian (''Gentiana asclepiadea'')]] [[ Image: Gentiana.clausa1web.jpg|thumb| none|Bottle Gentian (''Gentiana clausa'') ]] [[Image: Gentiana calycosa 7140.JPG|thumb| none|Rainier Pleated Gentian (''Gentiana calycosa'') ]] [[Image: Gentiana.parryi1.jpg |thumb| none|Parry's Gentian (''Gentiana parryi'') ]] [[Image: Gentiana septemfida0.jpg|thumb| none|Crested Gentian (''Gentiana septemfida)'']] [[Image: Gentiana verna L ag1.jpg|thumb| none |Spring Gentian (''Gentiana verna'') ]] {{Commons|Gentiana}} | |} ==References== * Lena Struwe (Editor), Victor A. Albert (Editor), ''Gentianaceae '', Cambridge University Press, 2002; ISBN 0521809991 * [http://gentian.rutgers.edu/ Gentian Research Network] * [http://www.health-care-clinic.org/alternative-medicines/gentian.htm Medical Benefits of Gentian] == Gentian in Culture== *Gentian roots from the [[Auvergne (province)|Auvergne]] region of [[France]] are the basis for ''Gentiane'', an apéritif ([[liqueur]]). Varieties include ''Suze'', created since [[1795]], at the ''distillerie Rousseau, Laurens et Moureaux à Maisons-Alfort''; Ambroise Labounoux's ''La Salers'', made since 1885 at the ''Distillerie de la Salers''; and ''L´Avèze'', created in 1929 in Auvergne. ''Picon'', made of equal parts gentian root and [[Cinchona]] root with [[sugar]] syrup and [[caramel]] was created by Gaétan Picon, in [[1837]], when he was stationed in [[Algeria]] with the [[Army of Africa (France)|French army]]. He returned to France in [[1871]] bringing with him the "first African apéritif." *Gentian is mentioned in the ninth of [[Rainer Maria Rilke]]'s [[Duino Elegies]]. *"Gentian" is the title of a short story by [[Mary E. Wilkins Freeman]]. *"Bavarian Gentians" is the name of a poem by [[D. H. Lawrence]]. *It is mentioned multiple times in [[Thomas Pynchon]]'s [[Gravity's Rainbow]]. Also, a character in the book is named Enzian, which is the German term for Gentian. *Gentian root is a major flavor component in [[New England]]'s regionally popular soft drink [[Moxie]]. *Poet [[William Cullen Bryant]] has a poem entitled "To the Fringed Gentian." *Used in Queen's University Engineering traditions. *The Gentian is referenced in Emily Dickinson's poem number 442: "God made a little Gentian-// It tried- to be a Rose-" *A character in the book [[The Secret History of The Pink Carnation]] by [[Lauren Willig]] uses the name "The Purple Gentian" as his name while doing good deeds to prevent the invasion of England by Napoleon's army. [[Category:Gentianaceae]] [[Category:Medicinal plants]] [[Category:Plants named after people]] [[bg:Тинтява]] [[ca:Genciana]] [[da:Ensian]] [[de:Enziane]] [[es:Gentiana]] [[eo:Genciano]] [[fa:کوشاد]] [[fr:Gentiana]] [[hsb:Hórkowc]] [[it:Gentiana]] [[nl:Gentiaan]] [[ja:リンドウ]] [[pl:Goryczka]] [[pt:Gentiana]] [[ru:Горечавка]] [[sr:Сириштара]] [[fi:Gentiana]] [[sv:Gentianor]] [[uk:Тирлич]]