Asteraceae

Daisy - Sunflower Family

Ligularia fischeri (Ledeb.) Turcz.

Fischer's Ligularia

Nepali:

The large heart-shaped leaves were massed in a wetland area at the end of a small pond at 2600m, close to the top of Phulchowki. In late July tall spikes with numerous flower heads appeared attracting many butterflies, especially the Large Silverstripe (Argynnis childreni) and Hill Jezebel (Delias belladonna). It is found across the Himalayas.

Melanoseris bruoniana (Wall ex. DC) N.Kilain & Ze H.Wang

Himalayan Rattle Snake Root

Nepali:

This is a tall plant with small dangling flower clusters on very thin stems. The flower colors vary with age from dark purple to light purple to pale lavender.  The plant was growing beside the road near the pond below the army camp. It was flowering in September. It is called rattlesnake root because it was thought that the plant was a cure for snake bites. 

Dichrocephala benthamii C.B. Clarke

Nepali: Chhykie Jhar

Found in Nepal, Bhutan, Assam, and Indo-China. This is a fairly tall plant with flower heads that look like they are missing the petals. The top of the flower head is yellow and the cropped sides are white. Serrated leaves of differing shapes line the stems - under the flower heads the leaves are lance-like below they are broader oval in shape. They were flowering in September.

Gnaphalium affine D.Don

Cotton Weed

Nepali: Kairo Jhar

A perennial weed that grows along roads and paths. Leaves are oblong, grey, and felted. The bright yellow flower cluster grows at the ends of spindly stems. A common weed throughout Asia. It grows at elevations ranging from 1200 to 3000m.

Anaphalis busua (Buch.-Ham) DC.

Tall Pearly Everlasting

Nepali: Buki phool

Pearly everlasting is a common mountain plant. It varies in size from .5m to 1m in height. The flowers form in white clusters with yellow centers at the ends of the stems and branches. Leaves form wings, and expansions, at the base where they connect to the stems. They are common throughout the Himalayas at elevations ranging from 1800 to 3600m.

Anaphalis triplinervis (Sims) Sims ex C.B. Clarke

Wooley Pearly Everlasting

Nepali:

The thick woolly covering on the leaves is where this Pearly Everlasting gets its name. The long elliptic leaves have 3-5 veins.

Anaphalis busua (Busch.-Ham ex.D.Don) DC.

Pearly Everlasting

Nepali:

The stems are lined with numerous linear leaves from base to top inflorescence. The top inflorescence produces many small white flowers. There are no branches from the main stem. The plants grow in clusters near rocks at the top of Phulchowki Peak. Flowering was from late August through October. They are found throughout the Himalayas.

Cirsium verutum (D.Don) Spreng.

Common Thistle

Nepali: Thakal, Sungure Kanda

The flowers range in color from dark pink to light pink. It attracts many butterflies. Leaves are armed with long spines typical of many thistles. As the flowers age, they become lighter in color and cottony. The main stem is strong and woody. It usually appears in damaged areas along roadsides and in areas where animals have grazed. It grows at elevations ranging from 740 to 2200m. 

Aster trinervius Roxb. ex D.Don

Three-veined Aster

Nepali:

This pretty aster is found in small clumps near the Army camp at 2700m on a south-facing slope. The flower clusters are tall and showy. The locations are many from S. Tibet to Vietnam.

Duhaldea nervosa (Wall. ex DC.) Anderb.

Veined-Leaf Inula

Nepali: 

This species was growing at the very top of the Phulchowki Road under the Army camp. It grows in the rocky slopes that also have Impatiens racemosa, Aster trinervius, pictured above, and many other rock-dwelling plants. 

Synotis alata

(Wall. ex Wall.) C.Jeffery & Y.L.Chen

Winged Senecio

Nepali:

This Senecio has very unusual flowers borne on long bare stalks. The small narrow fuzzy flower heads reveal a tiny funnel-shaped yellow flower. The leaves are long lance-shaped surrounding the base of the plant. The plant grows from a large rhizome. It is found in the Himalayas NW & NE India and Nepal at elevations ranging from 1900m to 3000m.

Ainsliaea latifolia (D. Don) Sch.Bip.

Winged Ainsliaea

Nepali: Sahadewaa

There are no photos of the flowers but they are on the efloraofindia website. The flowers tend to self pollinate before they open. The winged leaf stalks are a good identification clue. There are multiple white flowers on an upright stem. These plants grow in rocky areas covered with moss. They flower in March and April at altitudes ranging from 1200m to 3600m.