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Useful Temperate Plants

Dolomiaea macrocephala

DC. ex Royle

Asteraceae

+ Synonyms

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:

No Image.

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 *  *  *
HabitPerennial
Height0.30 m
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusWild

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.
].
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Dolomiaea+macrocephala>

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