Geranium wallichianum, Kaoashund, Ratanjot, Lal Jari, Himalajankurjenpolvi

Geranium wallichianum D. Don ex Sweet
Family: Geraniaceae

Chinese: 宽托叶老鹳草, 无腺老鹳草
Finnish: Himalajankurjenpolvi
Hindi: रतनजोत Ratanjot, Lal Jari, Chowhri
Nepali: राक्लामुल Rakla Moo,  birath, chyaktu, nikyu, yasign
Kashmiri: Kaoashund

Description: Perennials. Rootstock ± vertical, 5.8-8.8 mm in diam., not tuberculate, with many fibrous roots. Stem 24-50 cm tall, trailing or ascending, not rooting at nodes, with 0.3-1.7 mm patent to retrorse nonglandular trichomes and sometimes scattered 1.4-2 mm patent glandular trichomes. Stipules broadly ovate, connate. Leaves opposite; petiole with 0.4-1.5 mm patent to retrorse nonglandular trichomes and sometimes scattered 1.5-2 mm patent glandular trichomes; leaf blade 3.8-7.2 cm, palmately cleft, ratio of main sinus/middle segment length = 0.75-0.86, pilose with appressed nonglandular trichomes; segments 3 or 5, rhombic, 0.8-1.4 cm wide at base, 9-17-lobed in distal half, ratio of second sinus/middle segment length = 0.14-0.23. Cymules solitary, 2-flowered; peduncle 3.3-15.3 cm. Pedicel 3.1-8.4 cm, with 0.2-1.5 mm patent to retrorse nonglandular trichomes and sometimes scattered 1.5-2.1 mm patent glandular trichomes; bracteoles broadly lanceolate. Sepals 6.4-10.1 mm, mucro 2.3-4.6 mm, ratio of mucro/sepal length = 0.24-0.58, outside with 0.3-1.2 mm antrorse ± appressed nonglandular trichomes, inside glabrous. Petals deep pink, purplish, or blue, (1.2-)1.4-2.2 cm, erect to patent, inside basally with trichomes, margin basally ciliate, apex emarginate with a 0.4-1.4 mm notch. Staminal filaments blackish at least at tip, lanceolate, base slightly dilated, abaxially pilose and proximal half ciliate, trichomes 0.3-0.6 mm; anthers black, 2.2-3 mm. Nectaries 5, hemispheric, abaxially glabrous, apex with a tuft of trichomes. Stigma blackish. Fruit 3-3.9 cm, erect when immature; mericarps smooth, with a basal callus, with 0.6-1.6 mm ± patent nonglandular trichomes; rostrum 2-2.6 cm, with a 2.9-4.6 mm narrowed apex; stigmatic remains 5-7.6 mm. Seeds 3.6-3.9 mm. Fl. Jun-Jul, fr. Aug-Sep. 2n = 26, 28.

 

Astringent, for toothache, plant paste applied to relieve aching  joints.  Roots  for  eye  complaints,  a  warm  decoction  of root a remedy for dysentery and cold; fresh or dried roots infusion given for rheumatic pain, fever, abdominal pain and body ache; to treat peptic ulcer, infusion of root mixed with bark of Schima wallichii and Prunus cerasoides. Veterinary medicine, root paste to kill worms in wounds of cattle. [CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants]

Published articles of  Geranium wallichianum

1. Volatile constituents of Geranium wallichianum D. Don ex Sweet. from north-western Himalayan region
By: Tewari, K.; Pande, C.; Tewari, G.; et al.
JOURNAL OF THE INDIAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY  Volume: 92   Issue: 1   Pages: 123-125   Published: JAN 2015

2. Antibacterial, antifungal, cytotoxic, phytotoxic, insecticidal, and enzyme inhibitory activities of Geranium wallichianum.
By: Muhammad Ismail; Javid Hussain; Arif-ullah Khan; et al.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine  Volume: 2012   Pages: Article ID 305906   Published: 2012

3. Antibacterial, Antifungal, Cytotoxic, Phytotoxic, Insecticidal, and Enzyme Inhibitory Activities of Geranium wallichianum
By: Ismail, Muhammad; Hussain, Javid; Khan, Arif-ullah; et al.
EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE    Article Number: 305906   Published: 2012

4. Pharmacognostic investigation of the leaves and rhizomes of Geranium wallichianum D. Don ex Sweet.
By: Muhammad Ismail; Muhammad Ibrar; Shafiq-ur-Rahman; et al.
Journal of Medicinal Plants Research  Volume: 6   Issue: 3   Pages: 504-509   Published: 2012

5. Antibacterial, Antifungal, Cytotoxic, Phytotoxic, Insecticidal, and Enzyme Inhibitory Activities of Geranium wallichianum.
By: Ismail, Muhammad; Hussain, Javid; Khan, Arif-Ullah; et al.
Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM  Volume: 2012   Pages: 305906   Published: 2012 (Epub 2012 Sep 20)

6. Chemical Constituents and Antioxidant Activity of Geranium wallichianum
By: Ismail, Mohammad; Ibrar, Mohammad; Iqbal, Zafar; et al.
RECORDS OF NATURAL PRODUCTS  Volume: 3   Issue: 4   Pages: 193-197   Published: 2009

7. Bioactive Natural Products from Two Sudanese Medicinal Plants Diospyros mespiliformis and Croton zambesicus
By: Mohamed, Ietidal E.; El Nur, El Bushra E.; Choudhary, Muhammad I.; et al.
RECORDS OF NATURAL PRODUCTS  Volume: 3   Issue: 4   Pages: 198-203   Published: 2009