Podophyllum hexandrum

Himalayan Mayapple ( Podophyllum hexandrum )

The Himalayan Mayapple ( Podophyllum hexandrum ), also called Himalayan foot blade, a flowering plant in the family Berberidaceae is ( Berberidaceae ).

Occurrence

Podophyllum hexandrum thrives at altitudes 2000-3500 meters in and around the Himalayas in the west of eastern Afghanistan in the Himalayas in northern India, Kashmir, Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan and Sikkim and east to western China and on Taiwan. It grows in humus rich soil in pastures and forests in the bush.

Description

The Himalayan Mayapple is a little branched, perennial herbaceous plant that reaches the stature heights of up to 50 centimeters. The bright green leaves are lobed.

The rhizome, according to other sources, the leaves are poisonous. The ripe fruit is not poisonous, but not tasty.

The hermaphrodite flowers appear in May to June and are whitish - pink. The in July-August ripening, about 5 cm long fruits are bright orange.

Use

The Himalayan Mayapple is occasionally planted as an ornamental in parks and gardens. It is propagated by seeds or division of the rhizome. As a mountain plant it is very cold tolerant, but does not tolerate drought.

The Himalayan Mayapple is toxic and is used medicinally. The rhizome contains up to 12% of the resin podophyllin, from up to 50% of the neurotoxin podophyllotoxin having the empirical formula C22H22O8 and a molecular weight of 414.4 g / mol can be extracted. Historically it was used as a laxative and emetic, used in the treatment of necrotic and infected wounds and as an inhibitor against the growth of tumors. The closely related American Mayapple ( Podophyllum peltatum ) contains a lower concentration of active ingredient, but was further investigated.

In studies with fruit flies efficacy as an insecticide was found. An extract of the plant was found in a study of mice effective against the effects of gamma radiation on the cells.

System

Podophyllum emodi Wall are synonyms. ex Honigberger, Sinopodophyllum emodi ( wall. ex Honigberger ) TSYing, Podophyllum emodi Wall. ex Hook. f & Thomson.

The systematic classification is controversial:

Pictures

Ripe fruit.

Flowers.

Fruits of a 20 -year-old plant.

Swell

• Description in the Flora of Pakistan. (English )
• Entry at Plants for a Future. (English )
• Entry at Giftpflanzen.com