GENERAL ARTICLE Brahma Kamal

GENERAL ARTICLE

Brahma KamalThe Himalayan Beauty

Dipanjan Ghosh

Dipanjan Ghosh has been

teaching botany for the last

ten years in Joteram

Vidyapith, Bardhaman. He is

also a well known popular

science writer, and one of the

editors of the journal Indian

Science Cruiser. As a science

educator, he is associated with

various government and

non-government

organizations in India and

abroad.

Brahma Kamal and few other related species of the thistletribe of plants are native to the Himalayas. Their flowersbloom during mid-monsoon months amongst the rocks andgrasses of alpine meadows and gorges. These extremely rareplants are not only famous for their beautiful flowers, but alsofor their significant importance in traditional medicine. Inthis article, an attempt has been made to document the di-versity, distribution, endemism, status, and indigenous usesof these valuable plants.

The Indian Himalayan Region is rich in plant diversity, compris-ing numerous endemic and rare plants. Brahma Kamal, a speciesof flowering plant named after Brahma – the Hindu god of cre-ation, is considered the ‘king of Himalayan flowers’. Brahma Ka-mal usually blooms in the alpine Himalayan habitats – at the up-per reaches of the mountain ranges between 4500–5500 m. Out-side India, it has been reported from Myanmar and South-WestChina.

The flower is considered sacred by many, and a person who hasseen it bloom is believed to be very lucky. The citation of thename ‘Brahma Kamal’ is found in the Puranas. According toHindu mythology, Brahma was born from a huge white lotuscalled the ‘Brahma Kamal’. This flower is also associated with Keywords

Brahma Kamal, Saussurea,

medicinal plant, Indian Hi-

malayan, endemic.

the birth of Hindu god – Ganesha. Even, in our epics like Ra-mayana and Mahabharata, we find references to Brahma Kamalas a holy flower.

RESONANCE | April 2017 377

GENERAL ARTICLE

Taxonomy

Brahma Kamal (Figure 1) and other related species, with the com-mon generic name Saussurea, belong to the Cynareae tribe11Commonly known as ‘this-

tles’.

ofthe dicotyledonous family Asteraceae. A P de Candolle (1810)named the genus Saussurea after Horace Benedict de Saussure(1740–1799), a Swiss philosopher. Saussurea is one of the largestgenera in the Asteraceae family [1]. It comprises an estimated410 species that are native to cool, temperate, and Arctic regionsof Asia, Europe, and North America. Saussurea has highest di-versity in the alpine Himalayan habitats22A total of 62 species are

recorded from here.

and Central Asia [2].Common English names of plants under the genus Saussurea in-clude ‘Saw-wort’ and ‘Snow Lotus’, though, the later one is usedfor a number of high altitude species in Central Asia.

In this article, a few species of Saussurea such as Brahma Kamal(Saussurea obvallata [DC.] Edgew.), Kasturi Kamal (S. gossyp-iphora D. Don), Phen Kamal (S. simpsoniana [Field & Gard.]Lipsch.), Snow Lotus (S. tridactyla Sch. Bip. ex Hook. f.),and Grass-leaved Saw-wort (S. graminifolia Wallich ex DC.) aretaken into consideration. All these species are nearly endemic,and are found in the cold mountain environments of the Indian Hi-malayan Region. They share some common morphological char-

Figure 1. Brahma Ka-

mal (Saussurea obvallata) –

God’s own lotus. These

sacred beautiful flowers are

used as offering in the hill

temples, like the shrines

of Kedarnath and Badrinath

[Photo: Amit Mukherjee].

378 RESONANCE | April 2017

GENERAL ARTICLE

acters that are 3A compact tuft usually found

in grasses or sedges.

taxonomically significant [3]. Some such featuresinclude – cushion forms or tussocks3, acaulescence4, presence ofinvolucral-bracts5, 4Having no stem or appearing

to have none.

strong downy indumentum6, and blooming atlow temperatures.

Distribution

5A collection of bracts or

leaves surrounding a flower or

flower head.

All the species mentioned above are restricted to high mountainranges (3000–5700 m) and are habituated to strong winds, in-tense cold, and perpetual snow [4]. Brahma Kamal mainly grows

6Soft, weak, and short hairy

coverage of a plant organ.

in the alpine meadows, glacier slopes, along the sides of lakesand streams, alpine screes, rocky slopes, and some other highmountain habitats (Figures 2a and 2b). In India, it is found inthe Himalayan ranges of Kashmir, Sikkim, Garhwal, Chamoli,and Hemkund with a prominence in the Valley of Flowers, at aheight of about 3600–4500 m. Outside India, Brahma Kamalalso grows in Myanmar, Bhutan, Nepal, East Tibet, and Pak-istan. Kasturi Kamal prevails mostly on shady moist rocky slopesand alpine screes at an elevation of 4300–5600 m in Ladakh, Hi-machal Pradesh, Lahaul and Spiti Valley, Garhwal, and Sikkimin India, and some other neighbouring countries such as Nepal,Bhutan, Southern Tibet, and South-west China. Phen Kamal prefersto grow in drier areas, alpine meadows, screes, and stony slopesat an altitude of 4400–5600 m. Geographical distribution of thisplant is limited to the high mountain ranges of Kashmir, HimachalPradesh, Garhwal, Chamoli, Hemkund, and Sikkim in India, andin Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, and China. Snow Lotus is re-stricted to high alpine reaches (up to 5100 m)– Brahma Kamal mainly

grows in the alpinemeadows, glacier slopes,along the sides of lakesand streams, alpinescrees, rocky slopes, andsome other highmountain habitats.

preferably alpinemeadows, screes, and dry rocky slopes. It is nearly endemicto Sikkim Himalayas. Other than India, it is very sparsely dis-tributed in Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet. Lastly, the Grass-leavedSaw-wort grows in alpine meadows, agricultural fields, and rockyslopes at an altitude of 3500–5600 m, and is restricted to Kash-mir, Pindari, Phurkia, and Kumaon in India, and Nepal, Bhutan,and Southern Tibet.


GENERAL ARTICLE

Figure 2. (a) Natural abode

of Brahma Kamal (Saus-

surea obvallata) at Bhag-

wabasa (4500 m), Chamoli,

Uttarakhand and (b) In the

rainy season, the mead-

ows adjoining the glacier

host beautiful Brahma Ka-

mal flowers on a silky carpet

of green grass near Roop-

kund (5030 m), Chamoli,

Uttarakhand. [Photos: Amit

Mukherjee]

(a) (b)

Botanical Features

Brahma Kamal (Saussurea obvallata) is a perennial plant (Figure3) with stout stem, 15–45 cm long. Leaves are oblong to bluntlanceolate in shape, and leaf margins are toothed. The lower partof the leaf is stalked, and the upper part is half-clasping with theblade77The expanded flattened part of

a leaf.

. continuing in a wing down stem. Several purple flowerheads8 occur in a dense umbel-like cluster9, each 1.5–2.5 cmlong,8A densely packed cluster of

flowers or florets.

and is supplemented with involucral-bracts with black mar-gins and tips. The entire flower head is covered by large, pale yel-low, boat-shaped papery bracts.9A cluster of flowers whose

spreading stalks or rays arise

from the apex of the stem, re-

sembling the spokes of an um-

brella.

Flowers bloom usually in July–August, and the flowers can be seen till mid-October, after whichthe plant perishes, becoming visible again in April. Flowers lookgorgeous but they smell awful, perhaps that explains why peopledo not bring them home.

Kasturi Kamal (S. gossypiphora) plant looks like a woolly snowball (Figure 4). The stem is stout; 10–20 cm long, hollow, en-larged, club-shaped, and densely leafy; the base is covered withblack shining remains of old leaf bases. Leaves are linear, coarselytoothed at the margins or lobed, and embedded in dense woollyhairs. Flower heads are densely clustered at the top of the stem.Flower heads are with many purple disc-florets1010A small regular 5-lobed

flower, usually one of a dense

cluster or a head.

, cylindrical, 1.5–2 cm long, and the entire flower head is deeply embedded inwoolly hairs. The time of flowering is between July– September.


GENERAL ARTICLE

Figure 3. Brahma Ka-

mal is a perennial plant with

stout stem; flowers look gor-

geous and bloom usually in

July–August. Photographed

at Valley of Flowers (3505

m), Chamoli, Uttarakhand.

[Photo: Amit Mukherjee]

Figure 4. A Kasturi Ka-

mal (S. gossypiphora) plant

growing on moist rocky

slopes at Roopkund (5030

m), Chamoli, Uttarakhand.


The plant of Phen Kamal (S. simpsoniana) looks like that of aKasturi Kamal, but can be distinguished when in flower by theirpurple flower-heads exposed outside the wool. The stem is oftenmuch smaller, 5–8 cm long. Leaves are free, linear-lanceolate,10–15 cm long, coarsely toothed, and more or less concealed inwoolly mass (Figure 5). The flowering season is during July–October. Flower heads comprise many purple disk-florets, denselyclustered at the apex of the stem, and surrounded by long whiteto grey woolly hairs.

Snow Lotus (S. tridactyla) has a woody rootstock. The stem is 7–15 cm long, enlarged, and hollow above. The plant flowers duringAugust–October. The deep purple coloured flower heads are half-exposed from a domed inflorescence covered with densely mattedwoolly hairs. Leaves are linear to narrow-obovate, or spatulate,1–3 cm long, and are very densely woolly-haired.


GENERAL ARTICLE

Figure 5. The Phen Kamal

(S. simpsoniana) plant looks

like Kasturi Kamal plant, but

can be distinguished when

in flower by the purple

flower-heads exposed out-

side the wool. [Photo: Amit

Mukherjee]

Figure 6. Grass-leaved

Saw-wort or Ghoogee (S.

graminifolia) is a small plant

with enormous medicinal

values. [Photo: Amit

Mukherjee]

Grass-leaved Saw-wort or Ghoogee (S. graminifolia) is a smallplant with several stout woolly stems, 6–15 cm long (Figure 6).Distinctive long narrow-linear leaves are usually 1–2 mm broadand with dilated papery bases. The lower leaf surface is glossyand nearly hairless. Rootstocks are covered with old leaf-bases.Each stem possesses a solitary, globular flower-head with manypurple disk-florets11A dry one seeded fruit usu-

ally surrounded by a calyx

sheath.

embedded in dense, white woolly hairs, andis surrounded by an involucres of spreading or reflexed whitewoolly leaves. In the Himalayas, flowering season is betweenJuly–September. Flower head12Feathery, scale-like, bristle-

like, or simply hairy, outer per-

sistent perianth of the floret of

Asteraceae.

is about 2.5–3.5 cm across; involu-cral bracts are papery. Fruit is a cypsela11 and crowned with per-sistent pappus12 of two rows.


GENERAL ARTICLE

Ecology and Environment

The Himalayas and adjacent mountain ranges in the northern re-gion within Indian Territory, collectively known as the Indian Hi-malayan Region, represents a highly fragile and vulnerable moun-tain ecosystem in the country. There are two main seasons – win-ters and summers. The winters are long and very cold, and thesummers are short and cool. The alpine climate varies accordingto the elevation. It gets colder and drier as the elevation increases,and gets wetter as the elevation drops. Thus, temperature andweather changes very quickly in the Indian Himalayan Regions.Usually throughout the year, the high alpine reaches receive snow.All of a sudden, there can be occurrences of monsoons, floods,high winds, snowstorms, and other types of precipitation, whichmakes the climate here quiet unpredictable and untenable. More-over, at a high altitude the air is very thin, dry, and has a very lowprecipitation level.

Owing to a unique biogeographic location, i.e., at the junctionof Palaearctic and Indo-Malayan realms, wide altitudinal range,topographic variations, and numerous ecological niches, the In-dian Himalayan Region harbours a rich array of floristic compo-nents. The entire region has been recognized as a distinct phy-togeographic zone with two subdivisions namely the Eastern Hi-malayas and the Western Himalayas. There are approximately10,000 species of vascular plants in the Indian Himalayan Regionthat form more than 50 per cent of the Indian flora [5].

However, most of the high alpine habitats of Indian HimalayanRegion are actually stony deserts with perpetual snow and harshenvironment. Therefore, only few vascular plant species can sur-vive here. They have to adapt to the freezing temperatures, highwinds, and to a short growing season. All the high altitude speciesof the genus Saussurea described here are 5–10 cm in height,dwarf, and grow low to the ground. The leaves are producedin a dense basal rosette, and spiral up the flowering stem. Theflowers form in a dense head of small capitula, often completelysurrounded in papery bracts (Figure 7) or in dense white to purple


GENERAL ARTICLE

Figure 7. The purple

flower heads of Brahma Ka-

mal (Saussurea obvallata)

are hidden from view in

layers of yellowish green,

papery bracts which provide

the necessary protection

from cold alpine climate.


woolly hairs. The woolly hairs are dense and help in thermoreg-ulation of the flowers minimizing frost damage at night, and alsopreventing UV damage from the intense high altitude sunlight [6].

Uses in Traditional Medicine and Folk Practice

Their value in traditionalmedicine is quite

noteworthy. However,the medicinal properties

of Brahma Kamal andothers are not clinically

proven, though suchpractices may one day be

considered fortherapeutic uses.

The villagers of the upper Himalayan region, who are deeply in-fluenced either by the Indian or by the Tibetan culture, are quitehabituated to the many uses of Brahma Kamal and other associ-ated species. Their value in traditional medicine is quite note-worthy. However, the medicinal properties of Brahma Kamal andothers are not clinically proven, though such practices may oneday be considered for therapeutic uses.

The entire plant of Brahma Kamal can be employed as a rem-edy for a large number of human diseases [7]. Due to its bitternature, it is an excellent liver tonic and a great appetiser. Soupmade from this plant helps soothe liver inflammations and alsoincreases blood volume in the body. Plant juice is useful to treaturinary tract disorders. It clears recurrent urinary tract infections,and can be used as an excellent medicine for sexually transmitteddiseases. Brahma Kamal is a helpful medicine to treat fevers. Theflowers, rhizomes, and leaves are used for the treatment of boneache, intestinal ailments, cough, and cold. The rhizomes in par-ticular are used as antiseptic and for healing cuts and bruises. Inthe Tibetan system of medicine (known as ‘Amchi’ system), theplant is used in the treatment of paralysis of limbs and cerebral


GENERAL ARTICLE

ischemia [8].

Locally, the wool of Kasturi Kamal flower is used for the treat-ment of cuts where it sticks compactly, seals the wound, and stopsbleeding. The plant is also used for the treatment of asthma,bronchitis, rheumatism, menstrual problems, hysteria, and skindiseases. Phen Kamal plant is used as a remedy for cough, leu-corrhoea, sexual problems, all kinds of nervous debility, and forblood purification. The root extract is also useful in treating plague,painful periods, and snake bites. In case of Snow Lotus, thewhole plant is used to yield a tonic (contains ‘acacetin’ – a naturalflavone related to potassium supply to the heart) for weakness, astherapy for menstrual disorders, and a remedy for arthritis. In theTibetan system of medicine [8], the entire plant of Grass-leavedSaw-wort or Ghoogee is used as antitussive13 13That suppresses coughing., aphrodisiac, bloodpurifier, and emmenagogue14 14That stimulates menstrua-

tion.

. It is also applied in the treatmentof irregular menstruation, seminal or vaginal discharge, excessivebleeding from the womb, and pain in the waist due to a loss of re-nal potency.

Brahma Kamal, the state flower of Uttarakhand, holds immensesacred value in the Indian Himalayan Region where it is mostlyfound (Figure 8). This God’s own lotus is used as offering in thehill temples of Uttarakhand, like the shrines of Kedarnath, Badri-nath, and Tunganath. In September–October, during the festivalof ‘Nanda Asthami’, Brahma Kamal is offered in temples, and isalso distributed as ‘prasada’ [9]. Kasturi Kamal is also believed toguard against evil spirits. The oil extracted from the roots is usedin high-grade perfumes, and in the preparation of hair oil. Theroot of Phen Kamal is used as an insecticide to protect shawlsand woollen fabrics, and as incense.

Conservation Status

All the aforesaid species under the genus Saussurea in the high al-titudinal reaches of the Himalayas are nearly endemic, and are inneed of conservation. In addition, Snow Lotus (S. tridactyla) andGhoogee (S. graminifolia) are identified as rare, Kasturi Kamal


GENERAL ARTICLE

Figure 8. A postage stamp

of India commemorating the

sacred value of Brahma Ka-

mal (Saussurea obvallata)

flower. [Photo: Dipanjan

Ghosh]

(S. gossypiphora) is declared as critically endangered, whereasBrahma Kamal (S. obvallata), and Phen Kamal (S. simpsoniana)are identified as endangered, due to heavy anthropogenic pressureon these species.

Due to their ornamentalvalue, mythological

importance, and legendsassociated with

fulfilment of wishes,Brahma Kamal and

Kasturi Kamal plants areunder heavy

anthropogenic pressure.

Due to their ornamental value, mythological importance, and leg-ends associated with fulfilment of wishes, Brahma Kamal andKasturi Kamal plants are indiscriminately picked by locals andtourists. This has triggered their numbers to decline at an alarm-ing rate, to such an extent that now these plants can hardly be seenin certain locations of the Indian Himalayan Region. Besides, tomeet up their demand in traditional medicine, most of the natu-ral populations of Brahma Kamal, Kasturi Kamal, Phen Kamal,and Ghoogee are either under destructive harvesting or have beenextirpated. Thus, these plants are highly prone to extinction andneeds immediate protection.

The other problem is more critical as well as decisive. A grow-ing number of people are involved in the smuggling of BrahmaKamal and other related species. China is the biggest importerof these plants or their parts. The greater portion of China’s de-mand comes from India. The government has taken measures toconserve these plants, but it has failed to bar the illegal trade ofthese plants and their products strictly. In the mean time, theseinvaluable species have been declared endangered and are listedin ‘Appendix I’ of CITES (Convention of International Trade inEndangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). These species arealso included in the negative list of exports of the Ministry ofCommerce, Government of India, and in the ‘Schedule VI’ of the


GENERAL ARTICLE

Wildlife Protection Act of India. Also, the trade of these speciesis strictly prohibited under the Foreign Trade Development Act(1992).

Conclusion

These invaluable specieshave been declaredendangered and arelisted in ‘Appendix I’ ofCITES.

But, in spite of all the goodwill, the government has not extendedany distinct steps to preserve these endangered species. Indis-criminate exploitation and illegal trade of plants or their parts asmedicine or for other commercial purposes, illicit means of pick-ing for worshipping, unchecked tourism and trekking with com-plete lack of planning in eco-sensitive areas, destructions of nat-ural populations due to uncontrolled construction of settlements,etc., are some of the factors that has triggered the early extinctionof these species. If these threats persists, these unique plants willfail to survive.

Suggested Reading

[1] K Bremer, Asteraceae: Cladistics and Classification, Timber Press, Portland,

Oregon, pp.1–752, 1994.

[2] J S Butola and S S Samant, Saussurea species in Indian Himalayan Region:

Diversity, distribution and indigenous uses, International Journal of Plant Bi-

ology, Vol.1, No.e9, pp. 43–51, 2010.

[3] H Ohba, The Alpine Flora of the Nepal Himalayas: An Introductory Note, In:

H Ohba and S B Malla (Eds), The Himalaya’s Plants, Vol.1, University of Tokyo

Press, Tokyo, pp. 19–46, 1988.

[4] O Polunin and A Stainton, Flowers of The Himalaya, Oxford University Press,

Oxford, pp.203–208, 1997 (Reprinted 2011).

[5] Anonymous, Report of the Task Force on The Mountain Ecosystems [Environ-

ment and Forest Sector] for Eleventh Five Year Plan, Planning Commission,

Government of India, pp.1–91, November 2006.

Address for Correspondence

Dipanjan Ghosh

Chotonilpur Pirtala

PO Sripally Dist. Bardhaman

713 103

West Bengal, India.

Email:

[email protected]

[6] S Kumar and V Singh, Asteraceae of Sikkim, Deep Publications, New Delhi,

pp.200–209, 2001.

[7] M Pant and P Semwal, Brahma Kamal – The Spiritually Revered, Scientifically

Ignored Medicinal Plant, Current Science, Vol.104, No.6, pp.685–686, 2013.

[8] T J Tsarong, Handbook of Traditional Tibetan Drugs: Their Nomencla-

ture, Composition, Use and Dosage, Tibetan Medical Publication, Kalimpong,

pp.100–102, 1986.

[9] S S Samant and S Pant, Diversity, Distribution Pattern and Traditional Knowl-

edge of Sacred Plants in Indian Himalayan Region, Indian Journal of Forestry,

Vol.26, pp.201–213, 2003.


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GENERAL ARTICLE Brahma Kamal