Great yellow gentian

Description:

The Great yellow gentian is the tallest plant of the family Gentianaceae, and is found in European mountain ranges, including the Alps, the Massif Central, the Jura, the Pyrenees and the Vosges. Its is a large (1- 2 m tall) and robust perennial herb which can live for 50 years and takes 10 years to flower the first time.The leaves are opposite, broad and lanceolate to elliptic.The flowers are yellow, with the corolla separated nearly to the base into 5-7 narrow petals.

Habitat:

Alpine meadow, calcareous soil, alt. 1700 m. Spotted in La Pierreuse (meaning "stony place"), a protected area in the Swiss Alps.

Notes:

The rhizome and roots of this plant contain bitter compounds, and have been traditionally used as herbal medicine and to prepare specialty liqueur.