Gentian \Gen"tian\ (j[e^]n"shan or j[e^]n"sh[i^]*an), n. [OE.
genciane, F. gentiane, L. gentiana, fr. Gentius, an Illyrian
king, said to have discovered its properties.] (Bot.)
Any one of a genus (Gentiana) of herbaceous plants with
opposite leaves and a tubular four- or five-lobed corolla,
usually blue, but sometimes white, yellow, or red. See
Illust. of Capsule.
[1913 Webster]
Note: Many species are found on the highest mountains of
Europe, Asia, and America, and some are prized for
their beauty, as the Alpine (Gentiana verna,
Gentiana Bavarica, and Gentiana excisa), and the
American fringed gentians (Gentiana crinita and
Gentiana detonsa). Several are used as tonics,
especially the bitter roots of Gentiana lutea, the
officinal gentian of the pharmacopoeias.
[1913 Webster]
Horse gentian, fever root.
Yellow gentian (Bot.), the officinal gentian (Gentiana
lutea). See Bitterwort.
[1913 Webster]
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