Wildflower of the valley
Himalayan Cinquefoil
Potentilla atrosanguinea
- How easy to find
- Easy to see — you will see it easily on the trail
- Flower size
- Medium
- Family
- Rosaceae (Rose family)
- Local name
- Vajradanti, वज्रदन्ती
- Height
- medium
- Flower colour
- yellow,red,
- Flowering
- June to August
About Himalayan Cinquefoil
वज्रदन्ती or Potentilla is found in 4-5 varieties in the valley of flowers. It is very attractive flower especially due to its color and velvety texture. It is a common flower and can be spotted easily in the valley of flowers and Hemkund Sahib from June mid to End of September.
Where to find it
- Along the trail from Govindghat to Ghangaria
- Near the entrance of the valley
- In the middle of the valley
- In the deeper parts of the valley
- Around Hemkund Sahib
Habitat
Found in barren fellfields habitat with high speed winds and low temperature.
Uses & folklore
People take potentilla as a tea for the treatment of diarrhea. It is sometimes applied to the affected area for swelling (inflammation) and soreness of the mouth and throat.
What the name means
Potentilla is Latin for "little powerful one", after the medicinal potency of the genus. The species name atrosanguinea joins two Latin roots — atro (very dark) and sanguinea (blood-red) — describing the intense colour of the flowers.
Don't confuse it with
Potentilla argyrophylla (sno 153) is the yellow-flowered sibling — identical in habit and altitude, differing only in flower colour. Some taxonomists merge the two under P. atrosanguinea. Potentilla rigida (sno 81) is another Himalayan relative here.
