Gentiana villosa
Striped gentian | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Gentianales |
Family: | Gentianaceae |
Genus: | Gentiana |
Species: | G. villosa
|
Binomial name | |
Gentiana villosa | |
Range of G. villosa in North America |
Gentiana villosa, the striped gentian, is a herbaceous
Description
Gentiana villosa can reach a height of two feet. The leaves are lanceolet but are typically wider above the middle of the leaf. The leaves are dark green and shiny. The flowers are clustered at the terminal bud of the plant and are white with purple stripes. G. villosa typically blooms during the fall in late August to October.
It is believed that G. villosa was misnamed because "villosa" translated in Latin means "hairy" and G. villosa actually has no hair which is known as
Distribution
Gentiana villosa is found mainly in pine barrens and open woodland regions of eighteen states in the East coast regions of the United States and spanning out to the mid-east regions of the United States. The states that G. villosa can be found in are AL, DC, DE, FL, GA, IN, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, NJ, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, WV. Of these eighteen states four of them IN, PA, OH, and MD have listed G. villosa as an endangered species.[4]
Uses
As the common name Sampson's snakeroot indicates, G. villosa is thought to aid in the relief of snakebites.[5] In Appalachia the roots of G. villosa are carried as a charm.[6] The Catawba Indians used the boiled roots as medicine to relieve back pain.[7]
References
- ^ North Carolina Native Plants Society – Native Plants Gallery – Gentiana villosa – Striped Gentian
- ^ PLANTS Profile for Gentiana villosa (striped gentian) | USDA PLANTS
- ^ "Nearctica - Eastern Wildflowers - Gentianaceae - Striped Gentian (Gentiana villosa)". Archived from the original on 2008-08-20. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-02-03. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Closed Gentian (Gentiana clausa)
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ Cherokee Messenger – Native American Herbal Remedies Archived July 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine