Wildflower of the valley
Himalayan may apple
Podophyllum hexandrum
- How easy to find
- Very rare — you need to search for it — local knowledge helps
- Flower size
- Medium to large
- Family
- Podophyllaceae (May apple family)
- Local name
- Ban kakri, Ghee charpu and Papra.
- Type
- Herb
- Height
- large,medium
- Altitude
- 2500–3800 m
- Flower colour
- red,white
- Flowering
- May to June
- Status
- Vulnerable
About Himalayan may apple
Podophyllum hexandrum is an erect herb of 30cm height. Rhizome is creepy and leafy at top. Leaves are two and placed above the middle of the stem. Flowers are white or pale pink, solitary or cup shaped. Sepals are 3, early falling, petals are 6, stamens are 6. Fruit is obovoid and attractive red in color when get ripen.
Where to find it
- Along the trail from Govindghat to Ghangaria
- Near the entrance of the valley
Habitat
In shady places and undergrowth of forests.
Uses & folklore
Rhizome is used for treating constipation, wounds, cuts, diarrhea, fever, gastric ulcer, hepatic disease, skin disease. Fruit are used to treat cough. the plant contains podophyllin which interferes with cell division and can prevent the growth of cells.
What the name means
Podophyllum is Greek pous/podos (foot) + phyllon (leaf), after the foot-shaped leaves; hexandrum means "with six stamens".
