Interesting to hear of an extension to the range of this species.
Yes, it could well be rare in Kumaon. Almost all species have a geographic
and altitudinal range, sometimes climatic.At some point a species will reach
its limit and thus be rare regardless of any 'damage' caused by man. Care
should be taken, when assessing overall rarity (or abundance) when surveying at
such limits, as restricted occurrence in such districts is not necessarily
representative of the species in the whole of its range.
Species that are typically forest or forest clearing dwellers in higher
rainfall regions of the Himalaya such as Sinopodophyllum hexandum (syn.
Podophyllum hexandrum) are also found in the TransHimalaya e.g. in Lahaul
andLadakh (in the latter case it is found in the Suru Valley, which has higher
rainfall than other parts of this area). It issomewhat uncommon here but as
far as I know, never found in the main Upper Indus Valley near Leh). At some
point in its range it is 'Rare' but to therefore classify the species as a
whole as 'Rare' let alone 'Endangered' is to misunderstand plant
ecology/geography.
It is helpful to have reference images (as good a possible) of as many species
in the eFI data-base. Hopefully, this will help with them being noticed
elsewhere (potentially extending ranges) helping obtaining a clearer picture of
distribution than is possible from herbarium specimens alone (which can easily
be a century or more old).
The photographers amongst this group can also take new, ideally better images
(showing both floral and foliage) rather than relying upon scanned in images of
slides from decades ago - or images of pressed, herbarium specimens.
The more detail which can been seen, the better we can understand Indian flora
- whether in the Himalaya, which is my speciality or in other regions of India.
Best Wishes,
Chris Chadwell
81 Parlaunt Road
SLOUGH
SL3 8BE
UK
www.shpa.org.uk
From: D.S Rawat <[email protected]>
To: efloraofindia <[email protected]>
Cc: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, 27 February 2017, 7:00
Subject: Re: Himalayan Ginseng (Panax pseudo-ginseng) at fruting stage in
Eastern Himalaya
Panax pseudo-ginseng Wall. (Araliaceae) has its distribution extended up to
Kumaon (eastern region of Uttarakhand; Garhwal being western region). I have
seen it in Sunderdhunga valley between (about) 2000-2500m in forest. Based on
this sighting it appeared rare in Uttarakhand, may be also due to its
westernmost limit here.
DSRawat Pantnagar
On Monday, February 27, 2017 at 9:52:50 AM UTC+5:30, JM Garg wrote:
Thanks a lot, Chadwell ji---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "C CHADWELL" <chrischadwell261@btinternet. com>
Date: 27 Feb 2017 3:56 a.m.
Subject: Himalayan Ginseng (Panax pseudo-ginseng) at fruting stage in Eastern
Himalaya
To: "J.M. Garg" <[email protected]>
Cc:
I attach 2 images scanned in from slides taken by P.Curzon in Eastern Nepal
ofHimalayan Ginseng in fruit.
Flowers of Himalaya record P.pseudo-ginseng Wall. from forests & shrubberies
@2100-4300m from Central Nepal to SW China and Myanamar.
They mention nothing of it being rare - indeed it is unlikely to have been
includedin their guide had it been so. There is a line drawing. Nothing said
of variants.
Enumeration of the Flowering Plants of Nepal has subspecies
pseudo-ginseng,which is apparently confined to Nepal, subspecies himalaicus
which is furtherdivided into var. himalaicus, var. angustifolius & var.
bipinnatifidus.
Flora of Bhutan (Vol. 2 Part I, 1991) which covers Araliaceae records the
speciesin coniferous forest in Darjeeling, Sikkim, Chumbi & Bhutan @ 1500-3650m.
The authors describe this as an important species in traditional medicine. The
typicalsubspecies pseudo-ginseng with short rhizomes & carrot-like roots has
not been recordedfrom Bhutan or Sikkim.
Whereas the variant found in Bhutan & Sikkim have long creeping nodular
rhizomes, segregated as subsp. himalaicus Hara.
This has been further subdivided into: var. bipinnatifidus (Seemann) Li with
pinnatifid leaflets with sharply incised lobes; and var. angustifolius
(Burkill) Li - the latter is widespread in Bhutan,Darjeeling and Sikkim. One
of these varieties was considered a superior for, one the inferiorform, in
Bhutanese Medicine.
I know this medicinal plant from my time as a consultant to The Royal
Government of Bhutan inthe 1990s. I saw it growing in forest in Central
Bhutan. Cultivation trials were already underwaywhen I first visited Bhutan.
Best Wishes,
Chris Chadwell
81 Parlaunt Road
SLOUGH
SL3 8BE
UK
www.shpa.org.uk
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