Phulchowki is the name of a peak on the south side of the Kathmandu Valley near Godavari. There you find an incredible forest leading up to the peak full of diversity. But it is disappearing fast as the urban spread swallows up Godavari and moves right to the edges of the forest.
While we can, let's head up through the Phulchowki forest, a diverse temperate forest rich with birds, butterflies, dragonflies, and amazing flora.
The forest begins above the Godavari bus park at Naudhara at about
1525m. Naudhara means nine water spouts. These spouts, hiti or dhara, spill water into a trough that feeds a pool near a small Bhairab mandir. The Phulchowki walking trail begins from the "back door" of the mandir compound and follows a steep path to the summit at 2782m.
At the top of Phulchowki, the Nepalese army guards an important communications tower funded by the government of Japan in the 1990s.
By car, the trip is 14km - it takes about 45 minutes driving, and walking takes about 3 hours - this depends on if you take the newly made cement stairs or walk on the road.
Watch out for leeches if you decide to walk during the warm and wet monsoon months. They are always ready to "hang out" and go with you.
In March 2020, at the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown in Nepal, I walked the road with my husband and our friend Mahendra Singh Limbu several times a month. A new road was under construction at that time. This damaged many plants next to the road. Unfortunately, some of the plants recorded here might not be there any longer.
WORMS!! Every three years on Phulchowki beginning at approximately 2200m and descending to 1600m worms begin to leave their burrows in massive numbers. It is unknown if this is a migration event or a biophysiological clock where the worms leave in mass. They wriggle vertically and horizontally filling the drains, covering the roads, and ending up covered with flies and maggots with a stomach-wrenching stench. This might be a good research project!
Over the six months of lockdown, I photographed the plants growing along the road and paths on Phulchowki. I am not an expert in botany, but I identified most of the photos in this blog with the help of friends and various internet sites. Any mistakes in ID are mine, as I tried to consult an expert opinion for every single entry, but still, there will be some things that need to be corrected.
I would like to thank Abu and Sam Thomas for their help with the orchids; Abu is a botany student and studies orchids. He has published Orchids of Godavari (HimalDoc2022_OrchidsOfTheGodavari%20(1).pdf).
There are several helpful identification resources on the internet including:
eflora of India https://sites.google.com/site/efloraofindia/home, Flowers of India http://www.flowersofindia.net/, Flora of Nepal http://www.floraofnepal.org/ and sometimes iNaturalist helped confirm IDs and alerted me of wrong IDs.
This collection of photos documents 44 families with a brief description under the sidebar "Label" Family section. Below you will find one representative photo for each species. Please click on the Family Name or on the right for more information! At the bottom of each family entry, press Home to return This is a work in progress and will improve.
Buttercup Family
Anemonastrum elongatum
(D. Don) Holub
Eriocapitella vitifolia
(Buch.-Ham.ex DC.) Nakai
Grape leaf Anemone
Delphinium altissimum Wall. or D. cooperi Munz
? Larkspur
Clematis buchananiana DC.
Lemon Clematis
Thalictrum chelidonii DC.
Himalayan Meadow Rue
Thalictrum foliolosum de Candolle
Leafy Meadow Rue
Thalictrum virgatum Hook. & Thompson
Virgate Meadow Rue
Actaea cimicifuga L.
Poppy Family
Corydalis chaerophylla DC.
Dactylicapnos macrocapnos (Prain) Hutch.
Violet Family
Viola canescens Wall.
Himalayan White Violet
Pink Family
Silene holosteifolia Bocquet & Chater
Hypercum Family
Hypericum uralum Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don
Nepal Saint John's Wort
Hypericum elodeoides Choisy
Himalayan St. John's Wort
Mallow Family
Urena lobata L.
Caesarweed
Geranium Family
Geranium nepalese Sweet
Sweet Nepal Geranium, or Nepalese crane's bill
Balsam Family
Impatiens puberula DC.
Soft Pink Balsam
Impatiens bicornuta Wall.
Horned Balsam
Impatiens falcifer Hook.f.
Sickle Balsam
Impatiens scabrida Candolle
Three-horned Balsam
Impatiens kathmanduensis Grey-Wilson
Kathmandu Balsam
Impatiens racemosa DC.
Yellow Long-tailed Balsam
Impatiens tricornis Lindl.
Three Horned Balsam
Pea Family
Crotalaria pallida Aiton.
Broad-leaved Rattlepod
Tateishia (Desmodium) concinnum
(DC.) H. Ohashi & K. Ohashi
Blue Desmodium
Desmodium elegans DC.
Elegant Desmodium
Desmodium gangeticum (L.) D.C
Sal-leaved Desmodium
Trigonella emodi Benth.
Himalayan Fenugreek
Astragalus stipulatus Sims.
Milk Vetch
Erythrina arborescens Roxb.
Himalayan Coral Tree
Rose Family
Rubus biflorus Buch.-Ham. ex Sm.
Two Flower Raspberry
Rubus niveus Thunb.
Hill Raspberry
Kalo asleu
Rubus ellipticus Sm.
Rubus
Heart-Leaf Raspberry
Rubus pedunculosus D.Don
Three Leaf Raspberry
Potentilla lineata Trevir.
Lined Cinquefoil
Saxifraga Family
Bergenia pacumbis
(Buch.-Ham.ex D.Don) C.Y. Wu. & J.T. Pan
Chinese Bergenia
Saxifraga parnassifolia D.Don
Himalayan Saxifrage
Hydrangea Family
Hydrangea anomala D.Don
Himalayan Hydrangea
Hydrangea aspera subsp. robusta
(Hook. Fil. & Thomas.) Mc.
Himalayan Tree Hydrangea
Stonecrop Family
Rhodiola chrysanthemifolia subsp. sacra
(R._ Hamet) H. Ohba
Sedum sacrum
Melastoma Family
Osbeckia stellata Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don
Stary Osbeckia
Gourd Family
Trichosanthes tricuspidata Lour.
Indrayan
Herpetospermum pedunculosum (Ser.) C.B. Clarke
Himalayan Bitter Gourd
Begonia family
Begonia rubella
Buch.-Ham ex D.Don
Red Begonia
Begonia picta Sm.Painted Leaf Begonia
Tetrataenium wallichii
(DC.) Manden
Hogweed
Hymenidium benthamii
(Wall. ex DC.) MG Pimenov & Kljuykov
Parsley Carrot
Angelica archangelica subsp. himalaica
(C.B.Cl.) G. Singh & G. M. Oza
Mountain Angelica
Oreocome candollei
(Wall. ex DC.) syn Ligusticopsis wallichiana
(DC.) Pimenov & Kljuykov)
Bupleurum hamiltonii N.P. Balakr.
Hamilton's Thorowax
Honeysuckle Family
Lonicera glabrata Wall.
Himalayan Honeysuckle
Dispacus inermis Wall.
Himalayan Teasel With Circe
Leycesteria formosa Wall.
Himalayan Honeysuckle
Rubiaceae
Madder Family
Hymenopogon parasiticus (Wall.) Bennet
Parasitic Mussaenda
Mussaenda roxburghii Hook. F.
East Himalayan Mussaenda
Leptodermis kumaonensis R. Parker
Daisy - Sunflower Family
Ligularia fischeri
(Ledeb.) Turcz.
Fischer's Ligularia
Melanoseris brunoniana
(Wall ex. DC) N. Kilian & Ze H. Wang
Himalayan Blue Sow-Thistle
Dichrocephala benthamii
C.B. Clarke
Gnaphalium affine D.Don
Cotton Weed
Anaphalis busua (Buch.-Ham) DC.
Tall Pearly Everlasting
Anaphalis triplinervis
(Sims) Sims ex C.B. Clarke
Wooley Pearly Everlasting
Anaphalis royleana DC.
Royles Pearly Everlasting
Cirsium verutum (D.Don) Spreng.
Common Thistle
Aster trinervius
Roxb. ex D.Don
Three-veined Aster
Duhaldea nervosa
(Wall. ex DC.) Anderb.
Veined-Leaf Inula
Synotis alata
(Wall. ex Wall.) C.Jeffery & Y.L.Chen
Winged Senecio
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Ainsliaea latifolia
(D. Don) Sch.Bip.
Winged Ainsliaea
Bellflower
Campanula pallida Wall.
Purple Bellflower
Codonopsis viridis Wall.
Green Bonnet Bellflower
Primrose Family
Lysimachia tetragona
D.Don syn. L. alternifolia Wall.
Himalayan Yellow Loosestrife
Borage Family
Hackelia uncinata var. uncinata
(Royle ex. Benth.) C.E.C. Fisch.
Hooked Stickweed
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Bindweed or Morning Glory Family
Cuscuta reflexa Roxb.
Giant Dodder
Dinetus grandiflorus (Wall.) Staples.
Forest Morning Glory
Oleander Family
Ceropegia pubescens Wall.
Yellow Himalayan Ceropegia
Potato Family
Solanum nigrum L.
Black Nightshade
Solanum varium Dunal
Tropical Soda Apple
Isabgol Family
Veronicastrum brunonianum
(Benth.) D.Y. Hong
Wulfeniopsis amherstiana
(Benth.) D.Y. Hong
Himalayan Wulfenia
Linderniaceae
Lindernia family
Lindernia family
Torenia asiatica L.
Violet Wishbone Flower
Broomrape Family
Pedicularis gracilis subsp. gracilis var gracilis
Wall. ex Benth.
Slender Lousewort
Pedicularis gracilis subspecies stricta
(Wall. ex Prain) Husain & Garg
Paired Flower Lousewort
Pedicularis bifida
(Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don) Pennell
Entire-leaf Lousewort
Pedicularis sp. variant (unsure of ID)
Lousewort
Gloxinia Family
Didymocarpus villosus D. Don
Stone flower
Henckelia urticifolia
(Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don) A. Dietr.
Nettle Leaved Chirita
Henckelia pumila
(D.Don) A. Deitr.
Dwarf Chirita
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Platystemma violoides Wall.
Pansy Platystemma
Acanthus Family
Strobilanthes penstemonoides var penstemonoides
(Nees) T. Anderson
Strobilanthes lachenensis C.B. Clarke
Hairy Strobilanthes
.jpeg)
Strobilanthes nutans
(Nees) T. Anderson
Nutan's Coneflower
Verbena Family
Pseudocaryopteris bicolor
(Roxb. ex Hardw.) P.B. Cantino
Blue Mist Shrub
Clerodendrum chinense (Osbeck) Mabb.
Chinese glory bower
Lamiaceae
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Mint Family
Ajuga lobata D. Don
Lobed-leaf Bungle weed
Scutellaria scandens D. Don
Climbing Skull Cap
Scutellaria discolor Colebr.
Bicolor Sculcap
Leucas decemdentata (Willd.) Sm.
.jpeg)
Isodon repens (Wall. ex Benth.) Murata
Repens Isodon
Isodon phulchokiensis (Murata) H.Hara
Phulchok Isodon
Isodon rugosus (Wall. ex. Benth.) Codd
Wrinkled leaf Isodon
Isodon lophanthoides var.
Crested Flower Isodon
.jpeg)
Clinopodium vulgare L.
Shady Calamint
Teucrium quadrifarium Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don
Himalayan Germander
Colquhounia coccinea Wall.
Himalayan mint shrub
Polygalaceae
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Persicaria nepalensis
Polygala arillata Buch.-Ham ex D.Don
Yellow Milkwort
Knotweed Family
Fagopyrum diotrys
(D. Don) H. Hara
Perennial Buckwheat
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Bistorta amplexicaulis
(D.Don) Ronse Decr.
Red Mountain Fleeceflower
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(Meisn.) Miyabe
Nepali Knotweed
Nepali Knotweed
Persicaria runcinata
(Busch. -ex Ham. ex D. Don) Masam
Koenigia mollis
(D.Don) T.M. Schust & Reveal
Sikkim Knotweed
Nepali: Thotne
Loranthaceae
Mistletoe Family
Mistletoe Family
Scurrula elata
(Edgew.) Danser
Tall Mistletoe
Urticaceae
Nettle Family
Nettle Family
Boehmeria rugulosa Wedd.
Daar
Boehmeria virgata var. scabrell
(Roxb.) Friis & Wilmot-Dear
Rough False-leaf Nettle
Girardinia diversifolia (Link) Frii
Indian Stinging Nettle
Lecanthus peduncularis (Wall. ex Royle) Wedd.
Stalked Dischead
Orchid Family
Tree Orchids
Gastrochilus calceolaris
(Busch.-Ham. ex Sim.) D.Don.
Shoe-shaped Belly-lip Orchid
Vanda cristata Wall. ex Lindl
Comb Trudelia
Bulbophyllum umbellatum Lindl.
Umbrella Bulb-leaf Orchid
Dendrobium amoenum
Wall. ex Lindl.
Lovely Dendrobium
Dendrobium densiflorum Lindl.
Pineapple Orchid or Densely Flowered Dendrobium
Dendrobium longicornu Lindl.
Long-horned Dendrobium
Coelogyne cristata Lindl.
Crested Coelogyne
Coelogyne corymbosa Lindl.
Clustered Coelogyne
Coelogyne nitida (Wall. ex D.Don) Lindl
Shining Coelogyne
Coelogyne ovalis Lindl.
Oval Coelogyne
Rhynchostylis retusa (L.) Blume
Foxtail Orchid
Coelogyne prolifera Lindl.
Prolific Coelogyne
Pholidota imbricata Lindl.
Rattlesnake Orchid
Pholidota articulate Lindl
Jointed or Articulated Pholidota
Cymbilabia undulata(Lindl.) D.K.Liu & Ming H.Li
Wavy Petal Cymbilabia
Terrestrial orchidsCalanthe plantaginea Lindl.
Plantain Calanthe
Platanthera japonica
Japan Habenaria
Goodyera repens (L.) R.Br.
Creeping Lady's Tresses
Platanthera clavigera Lindl.
Club-tail Habenaria
Satyrium nepalense D.Don
Nepal Satyrium
Epipactis helleborine (L.) Crantz
Broad-leaved Helleborine
Herminium lanceum (Thunb. ex Sw.) Vuikj
Lance Leaf Herminium
Spiranthes sinensis (Pers.) Ames.
Chinese Lady's Tresses
Zingiberaceae
Ginger Family
Globba racemosa Sm.
Yellow Swan Flower
Hedychium thyrsiforme Sm.
Frilly White Ginger
Hedychium coccineum
Busch.-Ham.ex Sm.
Butterfly Ginger
Hedychium gardnerianum
Sheppard ex. Ker Gwal.
Kahili Ginger
Hedychium spicatum Sm.
Spiked Ginger Lily
Roscoea purpurea Sm.
Rosco's Lily with Philoliche longirostris
Cautleya spicata (Sm.) Baker
Spiked Shade Ginger or Chinese Butterfly Ginger
Alliaceae
Onion Family
Allium wallichii Kunth
Himalayan Onion
Star Grass Family
Hypoxis aurea Lour.
Golden Star Grass
Lily Family
Cardiocrinum giganteum (Wall.) Makino
Great Himalayan Lily
Lilium nepalense D.Don
Nepal Lily
Ophiopogon intermedius D.Don
White Turf Lily
Commelina maculata Edge.
Spotted Dayflower
Arum Family
Arisaema costatum (Wall.) Mart.
Cobra Lily
Himalayan Cobra Lily
Whip-cord Lily or Jack in the Pulpit
Arisaema concinnum Schott
Cashew/Sumac Family
Dobinea vulgaris Busch.-Ham. ex D.Don.
Magnolia-vine family
Schisandra grandilfora
Magnolia-vine
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Ivy Family
Hedera nepalensis K. Koch.
Himalayan Ivy
WHEW
The top of the road is marked before the Army camp.
I hope the gods and Phulchowki Mai will protect the Mountain and her precious plants, animals, and insects.
