The queen of Himalayan flowers
Family name – PAPAVARACEAE Poppy family,
World- 26 genera, 250 species
India – 3 genera, 25 species
GENUS NAME – MECONOPSIS vig.
World – 40 species
India – 20 specie
The term is derived from Greek words Mecon meaning Poppy and opsis referring to flowers.
Aculeata means bearing a prickle, referring to prickly nature of the plant.
English name – Blue Poppy
The flower are often called as Queen of Himalayan flowers
Kedarkantha trek, Trans Himalaya, Kag bhusandi trek, Kag bhusandi lake, Satopanth
Local name – Neela posta
Prickly herbs with steam 40-50 cm tall. Leaves 10-20 × 4-5 misshape very variable oblong, or cordate to deltoid, pinnatified with irregularly
divided segments; petiole 10 – 15 cm. Basally expanded and sheathing the steam; leaves at the top are smaller and sessile. Flowers fluorescent
blue,3-4 cm across; sepals 2, broadly oblong – orbicular, petals 4, rarely 6 obovate, thin and papery, stamens many, yellow, Fruit capsular, prickly.
Best time to explore – June to September
Distribution – India “Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, J & K, Uttar Pradesh” Bhutan , Nepal, China and Pakistan
Habitat – Rocky slopes/ Rocky areas, Hill slopes.
Altitude – 2100 to 4500mtr. Uses – whole plant is used as tonic. Whole plant is used in Tibetan medicine as a Painkiller. It’s used in
the treatment of fever and inflammations
CAUTION
Whole plant contains narcotics constituents; roots are considered to be poisonous.
Status – Endangered