Podophyllum hexandrum
Podophyllum hexandrum
Family : Berberidaceae.
Vernacular names : Wolmose (Am), Balugu
(Km); Meme gudruk (Dn);
Laghu patra (Np).
Common name : Himalayan may apple.
Habitat & distribution : Open and shady places,
shrubberies; 2400-4500 m, WCE Nepal. Distributed in
Afghanistan, Himalaya (Kashmir to Arunachal
Pradesh), W China. Locally found in Kagmara, Pungmo,
Ringmo areas.
Diagnostic characters : Perennial rhizomatous
herb, with erect unbranched stem. Leaves 2, large,
long-petioled, borne at the stem apex, palmately lobed
into 3 elliptic or obovate segments. Flowers solitary,
cup-shaped, white or pink, borne on petiole of upper
leaf. Berry large, fleshy, red.
Occurrence : Common.
Flowering & fruiting : May.-Jun. (fl), Jun.-Sep. (fr).
Parts used : Fruits.
Taste/Potency : Sweet (ngar) & astringent
(ka)/Neutral (nyom).
Use : Gynaecological diseases,
menstrual disorders, kidney disease, skin disease,
cough, fever due to channel disorders and bleeding. It
assists childbirth and expulsion of placenta. Fruits are
eaten raw.
Toxicity : Slightly-toxic.
Mode of use : Used with other herbs.
Chief constituents : Plant contains
podophyllin.
Harvesting : Fruits are collected
selectively during Aug.- Sep.
National status : Vulnerable (IUCN), CITES
Appendix II. Threat is due to harvesting for trade.
Local status : Not vulnerable. It is
commonly found and only the fruits are collected for
medicine.
Major documentation : Arya (1998), Chophel
(1993), CSIR (1969, 1986), Dawa (1993), HMG
(1970), IUCN (2000), Joshi and Joshi (2001),
Rajbhandari (2001).
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