Chirata, Chireto, Double-spotted swertia
Swertia bimaculata

Family: Gentianaceae

What it is like

A herb. It grows each year from seed. It grows 30-140 cm tall. The roots are yellow and fibrous. The stems are 2-6 mm across. The leaves on the stem do not have stalks. The leaves are oval and 4-9 vm long by 1-4 cm wide. They taper to the base. The flowers are in loose branched heads. They are yellow or white with purple spots. The fruit is a narrow oval capsule 2.3 cm long.

It is used in medicine.

Where it is found

It is a warm temperate to tropical plant. It grows beside streams and in forests between 200-3,000 m above sea level in China. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, Tibet, Vietnam

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Root

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bhale chiraito

Synonyms

Ophelia bimaculata Siebold. & Zucc.; Silene esquirolii H. Lev.; Swertia platyphylla Merr.;