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SCIENTIFIC AND APPLIED PHARMACOGNOSY 



GENTIANA. Gentian. The rhizome and roots of Gentiana 

 lutea (Fam. Gentianacea), a perennial herb (Fig. 229) indigenous to 

 central and southern Europe and Asia Minor. The fleshy rhizomes 

 and roots are collected in autumn and frequently cut into longitudinal 

 pieces and slowly dried, during which latter process they develop a 

 distinctive color and odor, losing thereby some of the gentiopicrin. 



FIG. 229. Gentiana lutea, growing in the Royal Botanic Society's Gardens 

 (London). After Perredes. 



The commercial supplies are obtained from France, Germany, Spain 

 and Switzerland. 



Description. Nearly cylindrical and sometimes branched, split 

 longitudinally or broken into irregular pieces, 3 to 15 cm. in length, 

 5 to 40 mm. in diameter; externally light brown, the upper or rhizome 

 portion annulate from scars of bud-scales, longitudinally wrinkled, 



