Apiaceae FAMILY

Heracleum wallichii

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

1/5

Safety & Hazards

Although no specific mention has been seen for this species, many members of this genus contain furanocoumarins. These have carcinogenic, mutagenic and phototoxic properties[ 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. ]. Skin contact with the sap of some members of this genus is said to cause photo-sensitivity and/or dermatitis in some people[ 218 Title Medicinal Plants of China Publication Author Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Publisher Reference Publications, Inc. Year 1985 ISBN 0-917256-20-4 Description Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject. ].

Botanical Description

Heracleum wallichii is a perennial plant that can grow up to 0.60 metres tall. It is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine..

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeE. Asia - Himalayas.

HabitatShrubberies and open slopes, 3600 - 4100 metres from C. Nepal to Bhutan[ 51 Title Flowers of the Himalayas. Publication Author Polunin. O. and Stainton. A. Publisher Oxford Universtiy Press Year 1984 ISBN - Description A very readable and good pocket guide (if you have a very large pocket!) to many of the wild plants in the Himalayas. Gives many examples of plant uses. ].