Bergenia stracheyi (Pasanbadh)
Bergenia stracheyi (Click to enlarge)
| Local name | Sabla, Pasanbadh |
| Botanical name | Bergenia stracheyi |
| Family | Saxifragaceae |
| Description and uses | They are clump-forming, rhizomatous, evergreen perennials with a spirally arranged rosette of leaves 6–35 cm long and 4–15 cm broad, and pink flowers produced in a cyme. The leaves are large, leathery, ovate or cordate, and often have wavy or saw-toothed edges. For most of the year, the leaves have a glossy green colour, but in cooler climates, they turn red or bronze in the fall. The flowers grow on a stem similar in colour to a rhubarb stalk and most varieties have cone-shaped flowers in varying shades of pink. These can range from almost white to ruby red and purple. It is common glacial moraines and on moist rocky slopes all the valleys of GHNP in an altitude of 3000-4000m. The roots are used in the treatment of stones in kidney and also as a poultice for stiff joints. The root powder is considered diuretic. |