Swertia

Swertia is a genus of flowering plants in the Gentianaceae family. It includes numerous species of herbaceous plants found primarily in temperate regions of Asia, with some species extending into Europe and North America. Members are typically perennial herbs occupying montane and subalpine habitats, such as rocky slopes, grasslands, and forest edges.

Plants are generally herbaceous perennials with opposite leaves and slender stems. Flowers are small to medium-sized, arranged in terminal cymes or panicles; each flower typically has a tubular corolla with five lobes and often five sepals. Colors range from blue and purple to white. The fruit is a capsule that splits to release seeds.

Swertia is in the Gentianaceae family, closely related to other genera such as Gentiana; the genus comprises numerous species and is distributed mainly in alpine and subalpine zones.

Several species are used in traditional medicine for digestive and liver conditions. The most well-known is Swertia chirayita, used in Ayurvedic and Tibetan medicine as a bitter tonic; other species such as Swertia japonica are used in East Asian traditional remedies. Active compounds include secoiridoid glycosides (such as swertiamarin) and xanthones. Overharvesting has caused declines in some populations, leading to conservation measures.

Cultivation and conservation: Some species are cultivated for medicinal use; habitat loss and collection pressures threaten several species; protected status varies by country.