Similarities between yellow gentian and white germer
Both plants have arched leaves that are gray-blue in color.
also read
- The flowering time of gentian depends on the variety
- Gentian is not poisonous
- The right location for the gentian in the garden
The heyday of yellow gentian and Weißem Germer are also the same. They start in June and last until August.
Occurrence of yellow gentian and white germer
Yellow gentian is currently still on the list of the Federal Species Protection Ordinance because the population was endangered until recently. The main occurrences are the European mountains and Turkey. The plant is avoided by grazing animals because of its bitter substance content.
White Germer is very common and is not protected. It is common in Europe in the Alps, the Apennines and in Eastern Europe.
Confusion with poisonous white Germer
Yellow gentian is a natural medicinal plant from which the famous gentian schnapps is made. It can only be confused with the highly poisonous Germer as long as the two plants are not in bloom.
As can be seen from the name, the yellow gentian has yellow flowers, while Germer has white flowers.
In the non-blooming state, the plants can be distinguished by the leaf stand. In the case of the yellow gentian, the leaves grow opposite to one another, while in the white germer they appear alternately in three lines.
White Germer is a poisonous plant
In contrast to the yellow gentian, white germer is a poisonous plant. It is even classified as highly toxic. The rhizome in particular contains high concentrations of alkaloids.
In the past, Weißer Germer was used naturopathically for rheumatism, high blood pressure, fever and depression. The plant was also used as lice powder and even as an arrow poison. Today, Weißer Germer no longer plays a role in natural medicine because of the risk of poisoning.
In the event of poisoning, the doctor must be consulted immediately, who will initiate detoxification measures.
Tips
Yellow gentian contains a lot of bitter substances but hardly any tannins and is therefore very stomach-friendly. That is why the roots of the plant are used to make gentian schnapps. Since the plant is very bitter, it is also often used to protect against animals in the garden.
