Page 9 - common trees of flowers of Uttarakhand

WILDFLOWERS OF THE MID-ELEVATIONS IN THE HIMALAYA COMMON TREES AND FLOWERS OF UTTARAKHAND | 09

Araceae Whipcord Cobra Lily Arisaema tortuosum
Alternate English name: Local name: Saanp Pyaj

Plant type & size Native herb,
50-200cm tall.
Flower size 20-30cm.
Flowering June-September
Description This plant is native to
the Himalaya and found in Mixed
Oak-Rhododendron forests and
sheltered portions of alpine
meadows between 1500-3000m.
The plant usually emerges with or
just before the first monsoon rains
and the flowers are best seen during
the early monsoon. The leaves are
palm-shaped and initially enclose
the emerging flower head. The
green-and-white striped spathe
(flower covering) is shaped like a
cobra’s hood, hence the common
name, while a twisted (‘tortuosum’=
twisted) appendage that emerges
from it looks like a whip. The fruits
are bunched together on an erect
stalk, with the ripe ones taking on
an orange-red colour at the top. Suniti Bhushan Datta
Fruiting takes place in the late
monsoon and may last till October.

Medicinal and other uses
The tubers of the plant are believed to cure snakebite
(probably due to its recognisable shape). The roots are
used to treat wounds in cattle, although the entire plant
is toxic if eaten by them. The roots are also used to treat
burns in humans.

Sanjay Sondhi

Nature notes
Suniti Bhushan Datta Sanjay Sondhi species for White-banded
The plant is the larval host
Hunter Hawkmoth Theretra
oldenlandiae.

TERAI MID-ALTITUDE
LANDSCAPE LANDSCAPE
COMMON TREES AND FLOWERS OF UTTARAKHAND
E H E H