Wildflower of the valley
Paper Cup Flower
Pleurospermum candollei
- How easy to find
- Very rare — you need to search for it — local knowledge helps
- Flower size
- Medium to large
- Family
- Apiaceae (Carrot family)
- Type
- Herb
- Height
- 10–25 cm
- Altitude
- 3500–4800 m
- Flower colour
- White
- Flowering
- June to September
About Paper Cup Flower
The species name Candollii is on the owner of Augustin Pyramus de Candolle, Swiss Botanist. Pleurospermum candollei is an annual herb of 10 to 25 cm tall. Stems are hollow with leaf bases on the lower parts. Leaves are compound 1.3-3 cm long, leaflets are broad and sinuately toothed. Flowers are white in color and involucres of 10 to 15 bractlets which are even longer than the flowers with broad white color margin and a greenish mid rib.
Where to find it
- Around Hemkund Sahib
Habitat
At alpine slopes and open grassland, rock crevices.
Uses & folklore
The fruits for used for the treatment of flatulence, dyspepsia, renal diseases and in stomach ache.
What the name means
Pleurospermum is Greek pleura (rib) + sperma (seed); candollei honours Augustin Pyramus de Candolle, the great Swiss botanist.
