Dr. Gurcharan Singh
Retired Associate Professor
SGTB Khalsa College
University of Delhi, Delhi-110007, India
Res: 932 Anand Kunj
Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018
Aconitum balfourii Stapf, ; Ann. B. G. Calc. 10: 160, t. 104 (1905). (Syn: Aconitum atrox (Bruhl) Mukerjee; Aconitum ferox var. atrox Bruhl; Caltha codua Buch.-Ham.) as per Annotated checklist of the flowering plants of Nepal ;
The whole plant is highly toxic - simple skin contact has caused numbness in some people [1].
Found in the upper subalpine areas in open positions on rocky slopes
E. Asia - Himalayas from Nepal to Tibet at an elevation of 2200 - 4000 metres
The tuber is used in Tibetan medicine where it is considered to have an acrid and sweet taste with a heating potency - it is also very poisonous[241, 243]. The root is analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic and vermifuge [241]. It dries up serous fluids and is used in the treatment of all types of pain and inflammation from gout or arthritis, all disorders due to worms or micro-organisms, amnesia, loss of bodily heat, leprosy and paralysis [241].
[1]F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
[241]Tsarong. Tsewang. J. Tibetan Medicinal Plants
[243] Medicinal Plants of Nepal
Terse details of the medicinal properties of Nepalese plants, including cultivated species and a few imported herbs.
(From PFAF )
VoF week: Aconitum sp (ferox or balfourii) From main Valley of Flowers:
Aconitum sp (ferox or balfourii) From main Valley of Flowers
In Book by Murty it is written as Aconitum balfourii
FoI as Aconitum ferox
Pls validate which one
It would be interesting to know differentiating key for these two species. Perhaps original description of A. balfourii from Stapf's paper should help.
This plant was towards ending site of valley.
May be of some use
http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/mpc11.pdf
http://ia700603.us.archive.org/10/items/mobot31753002133244/mobot31753002133244.pdfAccording to cited publication A. ferox does not grow west of Nepal. I think we settle for A. balfouri
RANUNCULACEAE Fortnight: Aconitum balfourii (??) from Uttarakhand_DSR_Jan 2015_11 : 3 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (2)
This Aconite is probably Aconitum balfourii Stapf and photographed in Valley of Flowers.
The Plant List 2013 indicates this name as synonym of A. lethale though Flora of India vol-1 mentions it as A.balfouri Stapf.
However, I am not sure about the ID
Flora of Uttarakhand- Aconitum ferox ? : 6 posts by 5 authors. Attachments (7)
Captured on 12/8/10 during the trek from Ghangaria (around 11,000 ft.) to Valley of Flowers (around 12500 ft.).
One more lovely plant from your trip collection....TFS
It may be Aconitum balfourii Stapf as per ... post & ... & as per distribution at Aconitum. Pl. confirm.
References:
Annotated checklist of the flowering plants of Nepal
The Plant List Ver. 1.1 (Aconitum lethale Griff. syn. Aconitum balangrense Lauener; Aconitum balfourii Stapf, Aconitum deltoideum Lauenar; Aconitum falconeri Holmes ex Stapf .; Aconitum ferox var. spicatum Brühl; Aconitum laciniatum var. fractiflexum Lauener; Aconitum patulum Tamura; Aconitum spicatum (Brühl) Stapf; Aconitum tamuranum Lauenar; Caltha codua Buch.-Ham.)
The Plant List 2 (Aconitum atrox (Brühl) Mukerjee as a syn. of Aconitum ferox Wall. ex Ser. )
Aconitum balfourii Stapf: A rare medicinal herb from Himalayan Alpine
India Biodiversity Portal Ecological features of Aconitum balfourii (Bruhl) Muk.—an ... PFAF