Boraginaceae FAMILY
Arnebia speciosa
Arnebia speciosa
Edibility
2/5
Medicinal
3/5
Safety & Hazards
None known
Botanical Description
Arnebia speciosa is a herbaceous perennial plant with unbranched, erect stems arising from a basal leaf cluster; it can grow around 40cm tall, perhaps to 60cm The plant is harvested from the wild for use as afood-additive, medicine and a dyestuff. It is a major source of the red to purple dyestuff 'ratanjot', much used as a food colouring in India. The plant is imported from Afghanistan and sold in local markets all around India for use as a dye and a medicine[ 2030 Title Identification and characterization of Ratanjot (Arnebia nobilis Reichb.f. Publication Natural Product Radiance, Vol. 8(2), 2009 , pp.142-145 Author Arora A., Gulrajani M.L. & Gupta D. Publisher Year 2009 ISBN Description ].
Habitat & Origin
Origintemperate
Native RangeAsia - western Himalayas from eastern Afghanistan to western Pakistan
HabitatOpen grassy places on hills; at elevations from 2,700 - 3,600 metres[ 287 Title Flora of Pakistan Publication Author Website http://www.efloras.org Publisher Year ISBN Description As of 2006, there is not much information on habitats available, but it is being developed and promises to be an excellent resource. , 600 Title Journal of the Arnold Arboretum. Vol. 34 Publication Author Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Harvard University. Year 1953 ISBN Description Amongst the various articles, it has a study of Pacific Island plants and a taxonomic review of the Podocarpus. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ].