Saussurea obvallata

Saussurea obvallata is a species of flowering plant in the Asteraceae. It is native to the Alpine meadows of the Himalayas, in India, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and southwest China at altitudes of 3,700 to 4,600 m.[2]

Saussurea obvallata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Saussurea
Species:
S. obvallata
Binomial name
Saussurea obvallata

Description

Saussurea obvallata is a perennial growing to 0.3 m (1 ft). The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by insects. Flowers bloom in mid-monsoon (July–August) amongst the rocks and grasses of the hillside at an altitudinal range of 3700–4600 m. Flower heads are purple, hidden from view in layers of yellowish-green papery bracts, which provide protection from the cold mountain environment. The flowers can be seen from July through September, after which the above-ground portions of the plant die back, becoming visible again in April.[3][4]

The Saussurea genus are named for alpine scientist Horace Bénédict de Saussure, while the specific epithet obvallata is derived from obvallatus, meaning "surrounded by wall;" in this case the flower's involucriform bracts.[4]

Cultural recognition

A postal stamp featuring the image of the flower and labeled Sassurea obvallata in English and Brahma Kamal in the Devanagari script was issued by the Indian government in 1982. Sometime after the new state of Uttarakhand was created in 2007 (changing its name from Uttaranchal, created in 2000), the flower was declared the state flower.[5] The flowers are used as offering in the hill temples, like the shrines of Badrinath. The thick curved root of the plant is applied to bruises and cuts, as part of local medicine.[6]

References
  1. "Saussurea obvallata (DC.) Edgew". The Plant List. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  2. "Saussurea obvallata - Brahma Kamal". flowersofindia.net. 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2012. Brahma Kamal, the much reverred flower of the Himalayas, is an excellent example of plant life at the upper limit of high mountains (3,000-4,600 m).
  3. Pant, Manu. "Saussurea obvallata (Brahmakamal)".
  4. Debta, Manas Ranjan; Dutta, Debasmitra (March 2011). "Uttarakhand" (PDF). Botanical Survey of India.
  5. "Uttarakhand State Signs | Uttarakhand State Animal | Uttarakhand State Bird | Uttarakhand State Flower | Uttarakhand State Tree". uttaraguide.com. 2012. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2012. State Flower : Brahm Kamal
  6. "Saussurea obvallata - Brahma Kamal". www.flowersofindia.net. Retrieved 2022-02-15.
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