Almost extinct, Himalayan plant with med value blooms again

NAINITAL: Efforts of experts in the research wing of the Uttarakhand Forest Department have brought back a 'critically endangered' plant from the brink of extinction, state forest department officials said on Wednesday. Endemic to the Western Himalayas, Gentiana Kurroo, commonly known as Himalayan Gentian or Trayman, is a unique and revered medicinal herb.
The highly valued plant holds a rich history in traditional medicine and has promising prospects in modern healthcare - it is known to help treat liver ailments digestive disorders, diabetes, bronchial asthma, and urinary infection. The remarkable feature of this plant is its distinctive vibrant, trumpet-shaped blue flowers (the presence of blue-colored flowers in angiosperms is relatively uncommon). These flowers typically bloom from mid-September to October and feature a characteristic white or yellow spot at their base.
The root of the Himalayan Gentian is known for its therapeutic properties - particularly in treating liver ailments. As a result, it has always been subjected to overexploitation, taking it to the verge of extinction. Classified as 'critically endangered' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Himalayan Gentian is one of the 16 plant species in the Uttarakhand Biodiversity Board list of 'threatened species' in the state.
Taking cognisance of the existential threat to the plant, the research wing of the Uttarakhand Forest Department launched conservation efforts for the Himalayan Gentian in 2020 at its Deoban centre in Dehradun.
The initiatives focused on the sustainable preservation and propagation of this endangered species through the rhizome-based technique - a process in which plants propagate through leaves, roots or stems. It can occur through fragmentation or the regeneration of unique vegetative plants.
As of now, 600-odd Himalayan Gentian specimens have been successfully conserved across the forest department centres at Deoban, Gopeshwar and Ranikhet.
Chief conservator of forests (CCF) Sanjeev Chaturvedi told TOI that the plant is primarily found in scattered populations at altitudes ranging from 1,700 to 2,100 metres in the Garhwal Himalayas.
He said, "We are determined to save this plant from extinction. It starts flowering from the third week of August to the first week of November. On average, one plant produces 20 flowers, and the ideal time for seed harvest is the first fortnight of November."
He added, "In the past few years, we have been successful in in situ conservation, monitoring and developing sufficient plant stock at our high-altitude centres and conservation gardens by developing propagation techniques."
Dr G S Rawat of Wildlife Institute of India said the plants mostly grow on moist limestone rocks and the habitat of this species is threatened due to quarrying and road widening. He added, "The medicinal plant is heavily exploited for root and rhizome. Due to its endemic nature and the high rate of exploitation, this species has become critically endangered."