Cypripedium himalaicum
Cypripedium himalaicum
Safety & Hazards
We have seen no reports for Eurasian members of the genus, but there are reports that the glandular hairs on the leaves and stems of some N. American species can cause a rash, similar to poison ivy rash[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ]. We have no specific information for this species, but it has been stated that the roots of at least one member of the genus may cause psychedelic reactions, and large doses may result in giddiness, restlessness, headache, mental excitement and visual hallucinations[ 2170 Title Herbal Medicines. Third Edition Publication Author Barnes J., Anderson L.A. & Phillipson J.D. Publisher Pharmaceutical Press; London Year 2007 ISBN 978 0 85369 623 0 Description Providing mongraphs on 152 medicinal plants with lots of references to allow further research. A very good book, it can be downloaded from the Internet ].
Botanical Description
Cypripedium himalaicum is a herbaceous perennial plant spreading slowly by means of relatively slender rhizomes to form a clump, Producing 3 - 4 leaves along each erect flowering stem, it usually grows around 25 - 28cm tall, with reports of some plants reaching up to 60cm[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. , 1866 Title Medicinal Orchids of Asia Publication Author Eng Soon Teoh Website https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24274-3 Publisher Springer International Publishing Switzerland Year 2016 ISBN 978-3-319-24272-9 Description , 1977 Title Non-Timber Forest Products of Nepal Himalaya - database of some important species found in the mountain protected ar Publication Author Ghimire S.K. et al Publisher WWF Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal Year 2008 ISBN 978-99946-837-9-6 Description ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. It has great ornamental value[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ]. Cypripedium himalaicum is a very rare species, known only from a few scattered subpopulations (now severely fragmented), mostly in very small colonies. The species is under numerous threats, especially from overgrazing, ruthless collection for horticulture and medicine, habitat loss and disturbance of its restricted range due to trampling, deforestation, clear-cutting, logging practices and climate change. These are causing a continuing decline of the species in all the locations and the destruction of some subpopulations. The plant is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2014)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].