Life sciences Leaflets 21:974 – 977, 2011. FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 0976 - 1098

st Published on: 1 Nov 2011 GERARDIANA WALL. : A HIGH VALUE MEDICINAL OF ORNAMENTAL UTILITY IN HIGH ALTITUDE COLD ARID REGION OF HIMALAYA P. ISHFAQ AKBAR, JAHANGEER A. BABA, A. R. MALIK AND KUNZANG LAMO REGIONAL AGRICULTURE RESEARCH STATION/KVK (SKUAST-K) LEH, LADAKH-194 101(JAMMU & KASHMIR-) [email protected] ABSTRACT: Medicinal properties of Ephedra gerardiana Wall. are well known worldwide especially for production of high value rare drug Ephedrine. This medicinal plant is under threat in the Ladakh region because of its overexploitation for tradition Amchi system of medicine and the extraction of ephedrine. In the present article, we recommended it as an ornamental plant for beautification in cold arid desert region as a conservation gardening approach. The plant possesses excellent growth, survival and regeneration traits. Ephedra in cold desert land scape Aesthetic characteristics of the plant, its utilization and management issues have been discussed in detail.

KEY WORDS: Ephedra gerardiana, Ephedrine,Amchi, Cold Arid Desert and Aesthetic. INTRODUCTION: Ladakh is a cold arid desert region of India, characterised by freezing winters and scorch summers with high solar intensity and meagre annual precipitation. The region lies between 320-360N latitude and 760-790E longitude with an area of 97,782 km2. The region is believed to be one of the coldest region and driest place on earth. Because of these peculiar features, the region possesses scarce vegetation with most of the area looking fade and barren. The people of Ladakh tend to strive hard for their sustenance. They have efficiently utilized many of the plant species existing in the region with their unique management through their indigenous knowledge for fulfilling their domestic requirements. The fast growing populations and ever increasing human needs depleting the natural resource has necessitated initiation of scientific management of natural resources in the region. On the other hand, natives have zest for establishment, development and beautification of their surroundings. For the same, they are testing varying annuals, biennials and perennial plant species either available to them locally or brought from Kashmir valley. In this http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 974

Life sciences Leaflets 21:974 – 977, 2011. FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 0976 - 1098 process, the people of the region have amazingly selected and successfully established many ornamental plant species for their home gardens and surrounding landscaping. METHODOLOGY: The basic methodology involved in the study to description the Ephedra as an ornamental plant was the study of its phenotypic characteristics which included growth habit, branching, flowering, fruiting, and its overall appearance in a landscape. Further the plant was exposed to ten experts who ranked the various parameters on a ten point scale. The overall characteristics studied are presented in the discussion. RESULTS & DISCUSSIONS: Ephedra gerardiana Wall. And High Altitude Ladakh desert:

The genus Ephedra (Family- Ephedraceae) spreading worldwide, is found in Europe, temperate Asia, South America and to (2400-5000 m). Ephedra gerardiana Wall., one of the most recognised medicinal plant species of the genus, is found in drier regions of temperate and sun alpine Himalaya from Kashmir to Sikkim, Chamba, Lahual & Spiti and Ladakh. Locally known as “Somlata or Chapat” in Ladakh, it is highly demanded for production of high value rare drug Ephedrine. It is a perennial or shrubbery herb, 15-45 cm in height with densely clustered slender erect joined branches arising from a woody base found growing upto 3700–5600 m above mean sea level. The rural communities of the region have more or less harnessed its potential for medicinal, fodder and fuel purposes. Its increasing demand in pharmaceutical industries and ruthless harvesting from natural pockets has alarmed to initiate crucial steps for its conservation and management. The species has one another important property which is yet overlooked or avoided by Floriculturists or Landscaping persons of the region. The unique botanical and phenotypic characteristics of the plant can be undertaken for the beautification of the cold deserts region of the world.

Aesthetic characteristics of Ephedra

Ornamental berries of Ephedra Aesthetic appeal of Ephedra http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 975

Life sciences Leaflets 21:974 – 977, 2011. FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 0976 - 1098

Ephedra may be considered as a probable floristic plant for cold arid deserts because of its following characteristic features: Its high adaptability on high altitudes, stony slope, rocks and dry situations with plenty of resistance against water stress, remains green even during freezing winters and makes the plant exceptional candidate for beautification of the region. The pleasant and accelerated vegetative growth with long slender green jointed branches is specification of Ephedra as ornamental character for beautification. Its early regeneration through propagation in the region helps to arrest desertification and greening the fade or barren desert. The bearing of deep yellow to orange coloured succulent fruits; adds to the charm and beauty of its own and surroundings. It can be easily propagated by seeds. Results from the ten point scale Table-1: Ranking of the plant characters for ornamental value S. No. Plant Characteristics Ranking (out of 10 points) 01 Foliage 6.6 02 Branching 7.2 03 Flowers 5.8 04 Fruits 4.6 05 Bushiness 5.4 06 Overall Appearance 8.6 07 Season Earliness 4.2 08 Mean Rating 6.05

The details presented in table-1 reveal that the overall appearance was ranked highest (8.6) for Ephedra in terms of ornamental look followed by the slender branching pattern (7.2). the overall mean ranking (6.05) for all the characters showed that the plant has the probability to be considered as an aesthetic plant for cold arids.

Utilization of Ephedra in Aesthetics It can be used for various ornamental purposes for lawn edging and hedging and in other establishments of ornamental value. Ephedra can be planted as a specimen plant in the lawn, providing an eye soothing look to the viewers. In rock gardening it can successfully be utilized as a specimen plant. As a pot plant, Ephedra finds its place in home decoration. http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 976

Life sciences Leaflets 21:974 – 977, 2011. FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 0976 - 1098

Management and Future scope Ephedra being a valuable and exceptional plant species of the cold arid regions can be efficiently utilized for aesthetic gardening of cold deserts. The future strategies to evolve Ephedra as an ornamental plant may include: Standardization of the various propagation techniques of Ephedra for rapid multiplication To work out the best floristic utilization of the plant for beautifying the cold deserts. Evolve suitable and new bred lines that possess long and early flowering, more number of flowers and dense foliage. Popularising this underexposed ornamental plant for greening the cold arid desert landscape. CONCLUSIONS: Cold arid deserts represent dry and fade environment with limited vegetation and ornamental for beautification. Besides Ephedra is under threat due to its over exploitation for traditional amchi medicine system. Ephedra deserves to be probably a valuable option for greening the cold arid regions of world. The unique approach is aimed at bringing the Ephedra under domestication to avoid future threat and also evolve it as an ornamental plant. There urgent and dire need is to evolve Ephedra as an all-round ornamental plant for cold arid high altitude deserts of India.

REFERENCE: Considine, J.A., 1993. Progress in selection and cultivation of Australian native plants for floriculture. Acta Hort. 337: 11-18. Cheng Ching-yung. 1978. Ephedraceae. In: Cheng Wan-chün & Fu Li-kuo, eds., Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 7: 468-489. Benson, L. D. 1943. Revisions of status of southwestern trees and shrubs. Amer. J. Bot. 30: 230--240. Cutler, H. C. 1939. Monograph of the North American species of the genus Ephedra. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 26: 373--427. Mussayev, I. 1978. On geography and phylogeny of some representatives of the genus Ephedra. Bot. Zurn. (Moscow & Leningrad) 63: 523--543. Singh, A. K. 2009. Probable Agricultural Biodiversity Heritage Sites in India: I. The Cold-Arid Region of Ladakh and Adjacent Areas Asian Agri-History Vol. 13, No. 2, 2009 (83–100) 83.

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