A recent study resulted in the addition of three medicinal plant species from the Himalayas to the IUCN Red List. It has been determined that the Dactylorhiza hatagirea is endangered, Fritillaria cirrhosa is fragile, and Meizotropis pellita is highly endangered.
Meizotropis pellita sometimes referred to as “Patwa,” is an evergreen plant and has a small geographic range. According to the study, the species occupies a small area of occupancy that is less than 10 sq. km due to Deforestation, overexploitation, and forest fires. Strong antioxidants are present in the leaves used to extract useful oil in the medicinal industries.
An annual spherical plant known as Himalayan fritillary is called fritillaria cirrhosa. The species is classified as vulnerable due to its rapid rate of decline, extended generation duration, limited germination potential, high trade value, heavy harvesting pressure, and unlawful trading. The species is used to cure pneumonia and bronchial conditions in China.
Dactylorhiza hatagirea (Salampanja), the third species on the list is endangered by habitat loss, animal grazing, deforestation, and climate variability. It is often used to treat diarrhea, ulcer, persistent fever, cough, and stomach pains in Ayurveda and other complementary medical systems.
