Saussurea obvallata also known asnight-blooming cereus,queen of night, orlady of night is a species offlowering plant in theAsteraceae.[2] It is native to the Alpine meadows of theHimalayas, inIndia,Bhutan,Nepal,Pakistan andsouthwest China at altitudes of 3,700 to 4,600 m.[3]
| Saussurea obvallata | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific 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
editSaussurea 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 paperybracts, 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.[4][5]
TheSaussurea genus are named for alpine scientistHorace Bénédict de Saussure, while the specific epithetobvallata is derived fromobvallatus, meaning "surrounded by wall;" in this case the flower'sinvolucriform bracts.[5]
Cultural recognition
editA postal stamp featuring the image of the flower and labeledSassurea obvallata inbinomial nomenclature and Brahma Kamal in theDevanagari script was issued by the Indian government in 1982.[6] Sometime after the new state ofUttarakhand was created in 2007 (changing its name fromUttaranchal, created in 2000), the flower was declared thestate flower.[7] The flowers are used as offering in the hill temples, like the shrines ofBadrinath. In India, it is known as "Brahma Kamal". The thick curved root of the plant is applied to bruises and cuts, as part of local medicine.[8]
References
edit- ^"Saussurea obvallata (DC.) Edgew".The Plant List. Retrieved6 August 2013.
- ^Jyothi, R.; Murthy, K. M. Srinivas (2023-10-15)."An overview on Saussurea obvallata: A spirituo-scientific plant of India".Journal of Drug Delivery and Therapeutics.13 (10):145–146.doi:10.22270/jddt.v13i10.5973.ISSN 2250-1177.
- ^"Saussurea obvallata - Brahma Kamal".flowersofindia.net. 2012. Retrieved8 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).
- ^Pant, Manu."Saussurea obvallata (Brahmakamal)".
- ^abDebta, Manas Ranjan; Dutta, Debasmitra (March 2011)."Uttarakhand"(PDF). Botanical Survey of India.
- ^"Brahma Kamal Stamp". 16 December 2012.
- ^"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. Retrieved8 October 2012.
State Flower : Brahm Kamal
- ^"Saussurea obvallata - Brahma Kamal".www.flowersofindia.net. Retrieved2022-02-15.
External links
edit
Media related toSaussurea obvallata at Wikimedia Commons- Plants of Nepal
- Photos at Flowers of India
- "Saussurea obvallata".Plants for a Future.
