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Botanical name: Aletris pauciflora Family: Nartheciaceae (Asphodel family)
Synonyms: Aletris nepalensis Hook.f. [Illeg.], Stachyopogon pauciflorus, Aletris delavayi Few Flowered Colic-Root is a small grass-like plant, growing up to 15 cm
tall. Leaves are linear-lanceshaped, prominently 5-7-nerved. Flowering
stem is naked, wooly-velvety above, longer than the leaves. Each flower
has 1-2, linear to narrowly lance-shaped bracts just below them, which are
much longer than the flowers. This feature distinguishes it from it close
cousin
Khasi Colic-Root which has bracts almost
equal to the flowers. In addition, Khasi Colic-Root's inflorescens is more
densely flowered. Flowers are hairless, pinkish, greenish or white,
stalkless or stalked, shortly bell-shaped. Petals are short, fused below,
turned back at the tip.
Stamens are 6, at the bases of the petals. Style shorter than the stamens,
with the stigma 3-parted. Fruit is capsular, ovoid, many seeded. Few
Flowered Colic-Root found in the Himalayas, from Kashmir to SW China, at
altitudes of 3400-4100 m. Flowering: June-August.
Medicinal uses: Aerial parts of the plant are used in lung and liver disorders, respiratory diseases, pneumonia, bornchitis.
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