Ranunculaceae

Buttercup Family

Ranunculus diffusus DC.

Spreading Buttercup

Nepali: Saano Sarro, Maardi Jhar, Naakkhore Jhar

Spreading Buttercup is very common in the Phulchowki area in June. It has small leaves on short stems under the flowers and lower leaves that spread into three oval serrated leaves on long stems. It is found across the Himalayas.

Anemonastrum elongatum (D. Don) Holub

Long-stemmed Anemone

Nepali: Dhanero

Flowering in July with three to four umbels at the end of long stalks. At the base of the stems is a three-lobed leaf that surrounds the main stem. From the main stalk is a larger three-lobed leaf extending out to the side. The elevation is around 1500 to 1900m.

Eriocapitella vitifolia

(Buch.-Ham.ex DC.) Nakai

Grape Leaf Anemone

Nepali: Maauro Mulo, or Dhanero

This large-leafed plant is easily seen growing beside the road from about 2000m to the top. The beautiful white flowers with bright yellow anthers are 3.5-5cm across and can't be missed. The leaves as in the name are shaped like grape leaves but larger at the base and smaller toward the top. They grow from rocky slopes in June through September.

Delphinium altissimum Wall. or D. cooperi Munz

Tall Larkspur

Nepali:

A beautiful dark purple Delphinium with blackish purple inner petals. The spur has a slight down curve. There is one set of 3 leaves attached to the stem below the flower, the plant base, and one or two sets of leaves at the stem junctions. There were only two small clusters seen near the top of the mountain. It seems to be rare on Phulchowki. They were flowering at two locations starting at the beginning of September below the army camp, elevation 2700m, and near the climbing steps. This one was identified by Saroj Kasaju at eflora of India. Later Phuentsho from Bhutan gave it a different ID of D. cooperi, which might be the correct ID - I will try to sort it out. There is a very interesting blog by panglobalplants.com that shows this flower in Manipur.

Clematis buchananiana DC.

Lemon Clematis

Nepali: Junge laharaa or Charchare

A cream-colored bell-shaped flower that hangs from a vine along rocky slopes. It grows from 2000m up to 3000m. The vines are thick and woody with multiple flowers on the leaf axis. Medicinal uses are from juice extracted from the roots to treat swellings from inflammation. Also used for treating peptic ulcers.

Thalictrum foliolosum de Candolle

Leafy meadow rue

Nepali: Bajaraa or Bansulee

The flowers are clustered at the end of the long stems with leaves that are wider than long. This one has leaves with a slight violet and yellowish tint. It flowers from June to July at an elevation below 2000m. Medicinally, it is used as a tonic, diuretic, purgative, and for the treatment of snake bites, jaundice, and rheumatism.

Thalictrum virgatum Hook. fil. & Thompson

Virgate Meadow Rue

Nepali: Daampaate

A common flowering plant along the road from about 200m up to the top of Phulchowki. The flowers are white with delicate petals. The leaves are numerous, ovate, and extend down from rocky edges. This is a plant found in the eastern Himalayas.

Thalictrum chelidonii DC.

Himalayan Meadow Rue

Nepali: Daampaate

Flowers are numerous on long slender stems and vary in color from pale pink to white. Leaves are oblong and slightly heart-shaped with toothed edges. They grow in the Himalayas from Kashmir to Burma at elevations 2300 to 3600m. On Phulchowki they were on rocky areas near the Army camp.

Actaea cimicifuga L.

Baneberry

Nepali: Gya Tsi Goepa

Long flower racemes were dangling from the main stem of a plant with long serrated leaves. Each raceme alternated sides of the main stem located above a set of three leaves. This was blooming near the top of the Phulchowki road at 2600m; it grows up to 4000m. It grows across the Himalayas and in East Asia. Flowering was in July-September.