MEDICINAL PLANTS OF SIKKIM

 

 

Basic Information

 

                 

 

Species                                               : Potentilla fruticosa Linn

Local Name                                         : Chinia phal (Nep)

Synonym                                             :

Family                                                  : Rosaceae

Habitat                                                : A much-branched, silky, robust shrub. Thrives well in slopes

                                                                                                                               of hill with less vegetation.

Distribution                                        : Distributed in sub alpine and alpine belt.

Sikkim                                                 : Kupup, Thangu, Dzongri, Nathang, Tamsay, Kyongnosla, Bhimbase, Lampokri (East Sikkim),

                                                             Yumthang-Lachung, Lachen-Thongu, Barsay, Kishong, 5 lake (Dzongu).

Outside                                               : Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, West Bengal.

Morphological information

A shrub about 0.9 rn high, branches rather slender, bark ultimately peeling off in fibrous strips. Leaves 5-7 foliate or towards the ends of the shoots 3-foliate the uppermost pair with broad decurrent bases, the two lowest pairs in 7-foliate leaves springing from the same point of the rachis, stipules pale brown, membranous. Flowers yellow, solitary or in few flowered cymes. Bracteoles as long as but narrower than the calyx lobes. Petals orbicular, twice as long as the calyx-lobes. Anthers oval with broad connectives. Ovaries concealed by hairs; style not narrowed upwards; stigma capitate.

Flowering                             : May-July

Fruiting                                : August-September

History                                :

Parts                                   : Leaf, whole plant.

Status                                 : Low risk.

 

Medicinal

The shrub is astringent and antispasmodic, used as spasmolytic, tonic and vulnerary used in the form of tea (or in tonic) in diarrhoea, leucorrhoea, kidney stones, arthritis and cramps. Infusion used to stop excessive and painful flow of menses and also for intestinal troubles.

 


Reference

1. Anonymous. (1994). The Wealth of India. Raw materials (Vol. 8) Council of Scientific and Industrial Research New Delhi. 222-223.

2. Anonymous (1992). The Useful Plants of India. Publication and Information Directorate, CSIR. 487.

3. Bhujel, R.B. (1996). Studies on the Dicotyledonous Flora of Darjeeling District. Unpublished Ph.D Thesis University of North Bengal. 310.

4. Kirtikar, K.R.; B.D. Basu (1980). Indian Medicinal Plants (Vol. 3) Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun.

5. Progress Report of the Project "Studies on Medicinal Plants of Sikkim" (1998-2001). State Council of Science and Technology for Sikkim.