Meconopsis paniculata

Family: Papaveraceae

What it is like

A herb. It grows 2.5 m tall in flower. It has a long narrow taproot 18 cm long by 2 cm wide. The stems are erect and covered with long bristly hairs. The leaves at the base are in a ring. They are narrowly oval with lobes along the edge. The flowers are yellow and in long clusters at the top of the plant. The fruit are oblong and have bristly hairs.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows on grassy slopes between 3,000-4,400 m above sea level in Tibet. In Northeastern India it grows between 2,800-3,900 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas (country/location of origin), India, Nepal, Northeastern India, Sikkim, Tibet

How it is used for food

The stalks are eaten as a salad. The flowers, leaves and young stem are cooked and eaten. The seeds are eaten raw.

Edible parts

Stalks, flowers, leaves, seeds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Kheldar, Langur, Ngebu metog, Ngeun metog, Upal serpo, Upa sepu

Synonyms

Meconopsis nipalensis Hook.f. & Thoms. non DC.; Papaver paniculatum D. Don;