Dolomiaea macrocephala
DC. ex Royle
Asteraceae
Carduus nepalensis Spreng. ex DC.
Jurinea dolomiaea Boiss.
Jurinea himalaica R.R.Stewart
Jurinea macrocephala (DC. ex Royle) Benth. ex C.B.Clarke
Jurinella macrocephala (DC. ex Royle) Aswal & Goel
Saussurea religiosa Royle
Common Name:
General Information
Dolomiaea macrocephala is a prostrate, herbaceous perennial plant growing from a long, stout, aromatic taproot; it produces a basal rosette of long, spreading, lobed leaves with a dense central domed cluster up to 10cm across, of rather large purple flower-heads on short stems[
2025- Title
- Ethnobotany of the Himalayas
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kunwar R.M., Sher H. & Bussmann R.W. (Eds)
- Website
- https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57408-6
- Publisher
- Springer Nature; Switzerland
- Year
- 2021
- ISBN
- 978-3-030-57407-9
- Description
-
]
The plant is commonly used as incense and as a medicinal herb in India, where it is gathered in large quantities from the wild for local use and for trade[
2020- Title
- Trade in Indian Medicinal Plants
- Publication
- Ethnobotany of India Vol 5., 321-345, 2018
- Author
- D.K.Ved, S.Noorunnisa Begum, & K.Ravi Kumar
- Publisher
- Apple Academic Press; Oakville, Canada
- Year
- 2018
- ISBN
- 978-1-77188-600-0
- Description
-
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
145- Title
- Forest Flora of Srinagar.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Singh. Dr. G. and Kachroo. Prof. Dr. P.
- Publisher
- Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh
- Year
- 1976
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A good flora of the western Himalayas but poorly illustrated. Some information on plant uses.
Range
E. Asia - Himalayas of northwest India to Nepal
Habitat
Open alpine grassy slopes, rocky areas, morainic deposits, screes, at elevations from 3,000 - 4,300 metres[
145- Title
- Forest Flora of Srinagar.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Singh. Dr. G. and Kachroo. Prof. Dr. P.
- Publisher
- Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh
- Year
- 1976
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A good flora of the western Himalayas but poorly illustrated. Some information on plant uses.
,
1977- Title
- Non-Timber Forest Products of Nepal Himalaya - database of some important species found in the mountain protected ar
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ghimire S.K. et al
- Publisher
- WWF Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
- 978-99946-837-9-6
- Description
-
,
2025- Title
- Ethnobotany of the Himalayas
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kunwar R.M., Sher H. & Bussmann R.W. (Eds)
- Website
- https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57408-6
- Publisher
- Springer Nature; Switzerland
- Year
- 2021
- ISBN
- 978-3-030-57407-9
- Description
-
]
Properties
Medicinal Rating | |
Other Uses Rating | |
Habit | Perennial |
Height | 0.30 m |
Pollinators | Insects |
Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Succeeds in any ordinary soil in a sunny position[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The root is cordial, febriguge and stimulant[]. A decoction is given in the treatment of various conditions including stomach aches, colic, diarrhoea, headaches, coughs, colds, fevers, arthritis, rheumatism, gout and puerperal fever[
240- Title
- Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
- Publisher
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
- Year
- 1986
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
,
1977- Title
- Non-Timber Forest Products of Nepal Himalaya - database of some important species found in the mountain protected ar
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ghimire S.K. et al
- Publisher
- WWF Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
- 978-99946-837-9-6
- Description
-
,
2025- Title
- Ethnobotany of the Himalayas
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kunwar R.M., Sher H. & Bussmann R.W. (Eds)
- Website
- https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57408-6
- Publisher
- Springer Nature; Switzerland
- Year
- 2021
- ISBN
- 978-3-030-57407-9
- Description
-
]. The juice of the roots is used in the treatment of fevers[
272- Title
- Plants and People of Nepal
- Publication
-
- Author
- Manandhar. N. P.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 0-88192-527-6
- Description
- Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.
].
The bruised root is applied as a poultice to treat skin eruptions, wounds and boils[
240- Title
- Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
- Publisher
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
- Year
- 1986
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
,
2025- Title
- Ethnobotany of the Himalayas
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kunwar R.M., Sher H. & Bussmann R.W. (Eds)
- Website
- https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57408-6
- Publisher
- Springer Nature; Switzerland
- Year
- 2021
- ISBN
- 978-3-030-57407-9
- Description
-
].
An aromatic oil obtained from the roots is used in the treatment of gout and rheumatism[
2025- Title
- Ethnobotany of the Himalayas
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kunwar R.M., Sher H. & Bussmann R.W. (Eds)
- Website
- https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57408-6
- Publisher
- Springer Nature; Switzerland
- Year
- 2021
- ISBN
- 978-3-030-57407-9
- Description
-
].
Powder mixtures prepared from the rhizomes, combined with the rhizomes of Rheum emodii, and the root of Valeriana jatamansi, are used to treat nervous debility[
2025- Title
- Ethnobotany of the Himalayas
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kunwar R.M., Sher H. & Bussmann R.W. (Eds)
- Website
- https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57408-6
- Publisher
- Springer Nature; Switzerland
- Year
- 2021
- ISBN
- 978-3-030-57407-9
- Description
-
].
Various chemical compounds have been extracted from the plant:-
An extract from the root revealed flavonoid and phenolic content with antioxidant potential[
2025- Title
- Ethnobotany of the Himalayas
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kunwar R.M., Sher H. & Bussmann R.W. (Eds)
- Website
- https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57408-6
- Publisher
- Springer Nature; Switzerland
- Year
- 2021
- ISBN
- 978-3-030-57407-9
- Description
-
]. The antioxidant activity has the potential for use in treating oxidative stress related disorders[
2025- Title
- Ethnobotany of the Himalayas
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kunwar R.M., Sher H. & Bussmann R.W. (Eds)
- Website
- https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57408-6
- Publisher
- Springer Nature; Switzerland
- Year
- 2021
- ISBN
- 978-3-030-57407-9
- Description
-
].
The root extract has shown some antibacterial properties[
2025- Title
- Ethnobotany of the Himalayas
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kunwar R.M., Sher H. & Bussmann R.W. (Eds)
- Website
- https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57408-6
- Publisher
- Springer Nature; Switzerland
- Year
- 2021
- ISBN
- 978-3-030-57407-9
- Description
-
]
Other Uses
The aromatic roots are used as incense and they form a chief ingredient of some local incense industries[
145- Title
- Forest Flora of Srinagar.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Singh. Dr. G. and Kachroo. Prof. Dr. P.
- Publisher
- Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh
- Year
- 1976
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A good flora of the western Himalayas but poorly illustrated. Some information on plant uses.
,
272- Title
- Plants and People of Nepal
- Publication
-
- Author
- Manandhar. N. P.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 0-88192-527-6
- Description
- Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.
,
1977- Title
- Non-Timber Forest Products of Nepal Himalaya - database of some important species found in the mountain protected ar
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ghimire S.K. et al
- Publisher
- WWF Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
- 978-99946-837-9-6
- Description
-
,
2025- Title
- Ethnobotany of the Himalayas
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kunwar R.M., Sher H. & Bussmann R.W. (Eds)
- Website
- https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57408-6
- Publisher
- Springer Nature; Switzerland
- Year
- 2021
- ISBN
- 978-3-030-57407-9
- Description
-
].
Propagation
Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in a cold frame as soon as it is obtained. Only just cover the seed. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Division in spring[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
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