Description

Spikenard is a flowering plant of the valerian family that grows in the Himalayas. It is a source of a type of intensely aromatic amber-colored essential oil. The oil has, since ancient times, been used as a perfume, as a traditional medicine, and in religious ceremonies. It is also called nard, nardin, or muskroot. It is considered endangered due to overharvesting for folk medicine, overgrazing, loss of habitats, and forest degradation.

Characteristics:

Perennial herb up to 16-50 cm tall, variable, rhizome long, stout, fragrant, outer layer covered with layers, stem erect slender, pubescent upwards, often glabrate below, sub scapose. Leaves opposite, simple undivided, linear-oblanceolate, longitudinally nerved, 5-20 x 1.5-4 cm long, narrowed into a petiole, base attenuate into the petiole, margin entire, apex obtuse, ciliate; cauline leaves 1 or 2 paired 2.5-6 x 0.5-9 cm, sessile, lanceolate or linear oblong, coarsely dentate. Inflorescence compound heads, capitula of cymes, 3-5 x 0.6-2 cm across, bracts in 3-5 whorls , linear lanceolate, pubescent. Flowers many usually 1, 3 or 5, bracts 0.5 cm long, calyx tube 0.3 cm long, obovate, pubescent, limb 5-lobed, pubescent, veined, persistent at the top to achene. Corolla tube 0.5-0.8 cm long, white or pink, stamens 4, ovary 3 celled, single ovuled. Achene, obovate, with white compressed hairs, crowned by calyx-lobes.

Medicinal Uses:

Indian spikenard is a plant. The root is used to make medicine. People take spikenard for colds, chronic coughs, asthma, and arthritis. It is also used to loosen chest congestion, boost tissue regrowth, and promote sweating.