Gentianaceae
Gentian family
Herbs and shrubs with bitter compounds (used medicinally). Flowers usually 5-merous with fused petals. Includes gentians and chirayata (Swertia).
Browse all 23 species ↓
Opposite, untoothed leaves on herbs that store intensely bitter compounds throughout their tissue; regular, five-parted flowers fuse their petals into a tube that twists slightly in bud, opening to reveal a two-chambered capsule.
The bitter iridoid compounds that give the family its reputation are the basis of herbal 'bitters' tonics and traditional fever remedies such as chirayata (Swertia).
Which Gentianaceae species is this?
Answer what you can see and narrow it down to a single Gentianaceae species.
How to recognise the Gentianaceae family
- 01
Leaf arrangement: opposite
- 02
Leaf type: simple
- 03
Growth forms: herb/shrub
- 04
Inflorescence: cymose/solitary
- 05
Fruit: capsule
To check whether a plant belongs to Gentianaceae, compare the leaf arrangement, leaf type, flower symmetry, fruit type, and one distinctive marker together. A single feature can mislead; the family pattern is the combination.
Learn the full family-identification methodTypical leaf characters
- ArrangementVariable
TypeSimple- MarginVariable
- VenationVariable
Characters typical of the family — individual species can vary.
Typical flower & fruit
- Flower symmetryActinomorphic (radially symmetrical)
- InflorescenceCyme
- FruitBerry
Typical of the family — flowering plants only; species can vary.
Notable members
Families that can look similar
Rubiaceae
Compare against Rubiaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.
Compare RubiaceaeAsclepiadaceae
Compare against Asclepiadaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.
Compare AsclepiadaceaeApocynaceae
Compare against Apocynaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.
Compare ApocynaceaeChenopodiaceae
Compare against Chenopodiaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.
Compare ChenopodiaceaeAll 23 species in GENTIANACEAE
- CanscoraCanscora decussata
- Devendra's CanscoraCanscora devendrae
- Spreading CanscoraCanscora diffusa
- Stalkless CanscoraCanscora heteroclita
- Pierced Leaf CanscoraCanscora perfoliata
- Lesser CentauryCentaurium meyeri
- Indian WhiteheadEnicostema axillare
- Bicolor Persian VioletExacum bicolor
- Stalkless Persian VioletExacum lawii
- Stalked Persian VioletExacum pedunculatum
- Little Persian VioletExacum pumilum
- Persian VioletExacum wightianum
- Purple Stalked GentianGentiana pedicellata
- Indian HoppeaHoppea dichotoma
- South-Indian HoppeaHoppea fastigiata
- Pretty Narrow-Leaved SwertiaSwertia angustifolia var. pulchella
- Canscora sanjappae
- Canscora stricta
- Exacum atropurpureum
- Exacum travancoricum
- Gentiana quadrifaria var. zeylanica
- Swertia corymbosa
- Swertia minor
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