Chhasakrungai
Epipactis royleana

Family: Orchidaceae

What it is like

An orchid. It grows to about 70 cm high. The leaves clasp the stem. The leaves are 1-1.5 cm long. The are oval to sword shaped. The flowers are green. The veins are red and the tip is red. They occur in loose spikes.

There are about 24-35 Epipactus species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. In Nepal it is grown from 1600-3500 m altitude. It grows in open pastureland. It grows in moist soil and along streams between 2,900-3,000 m above sea level in Tibet.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, Central Asia, China, Himalayas, India, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, North America, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Tibet, Uzbekistan

How it is used for food

The boiled roots are eaten.

Edible parts

Roots

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or from root offshoots.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Cephalanthera royleana (Regel) Boiss.; Helleborine royleana (Lindley) Soo; Epipactus gigantea Douglas;