Balanophora involucrata
Family Balanophoraceae.
Habitat The Himalayas from
Kashmir to Sikkim and Darjeeling at altitudes of 1,800—3,400 m
Ayurvedic Chavya (tentative synonym).
Action Astringent. Used in piles, also in rheumatism.
A related spec.ies, B. pulyandra Gruff., found in Nagaland, Manipur, West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh at 2,000 m, gave a phenolic glycoside, coniferin. The plant is used as an antiasthmatic.