Japanese Gentian
Gentiana scabra
Family: Gentianaceae
What it is like
A herb. It grows 30 cm high and 20 cm wide. The stems are leafy. The leaves are in pairs and oval to sword shaped. They are 3.5 cm long. The flowers are deep blue. They are often in pairs in the axils of leaves or in clusters at the ends of branches.
There are about 400 Gentiana species. It is used in medicine.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. In eastern China it grows along river banks and in moist grasslands between 400-1,700 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, China, Japan, Korea, Russia
How it is used for food
The young leaves are cooked with vegetables.
Edible parts
Leaves ?
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Long Dan Cao, Yongdam