Tree-Rhododendron: A Floral Blend of Beauty, Wellness and Delightful Cuisines

Vernacular names: Braah, Brass, Cheeu

English names: Tree-Rhododendron, Tree-Rose

Scientific name: Rhododendron arboreum

The Himalaya has hidden many wonders and secrets in its lap. It is blessed with unique flora and fauna and is home to four global biodiversity hotspots.  Tree rhododendrons, found in the Himalayan forests at an altitude of 1500-3600m, paint the green canvas of forests with patches of red during the months of March-April every year and attracts everyone’s attention.  The generic name ‘Rhododendron’ itself is derived from two Greek words, ‘rhod’ + ‘dendron’, which means rose tree. These trees, which can rise to a height of approximately 15 metres, bear bright scarlet red, bell-shaped flowers. These soul-soothing flowers have not only aesthetic beauty but also have many medicinal properties as well. 

 A close encounter with a bunch of flowers

 A group of trees flowering in Jakhoo (Shimla) forest

 USES

    1. General Uses: 
    Flowers are used for making chutney, jam, tea, halwa, pakoras, refreshing drinks, wine, and squash. 

 Collected Rhododendron Petals

 Burans Chutney 

Burans and Pudina Chutney 

 Rhododendron Flower Tea

Rhododendron Pakoras (Photograph courtesy: Dr. O.P. Vidyarthi ji)

 

My Friend with Rhodo Squash (Photo Courtesy: Dr. Rakesh Sharma Ji) 

  Burans Halwa (Photograph courtesy: Dr. O.P. Vidyarthi ji)

 Rhododendron Squash (Photograph from: HPMC website)

 Rhododendron Wine (Photograph from: HPMC website)

2. Medicinal Uses: 
Tree rhododendron has many medicinal properties. Leaf paste is applied to the forehead to alleviate headaches. Flowers are considered useful in controlling amoebic dysentery, fever, nose bleeding and rheumatism. Some recent studies have shown that the flowers have anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-diarrhoeal, antidiabetic, adaptogenic, and antioxidant properties due to the presence of quercetin, rutin, coumaric acid, and other phytochemicals. Quercetin is considered to be useful in hypertension, atherosclerosis and other heart disorders. Rutin helps in preventing the formation of blood clots and thus reduces the risk of heart attacks.  Coumaric acid is an antioxidant.

Recently, a group of scientists (Lingwan et al., 2021) from the Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi (H.P.), and International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi have found the petal extract of this plant to be effective in inhibiting the replication of SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of CoViD-19, which was published in a reputed research journal 'Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics'. They reported that 5-O-Feruloyl-quinic acid present in the petal extract complexes with the target spike proteins and prevents viral multiplication. 

    3.   Sacred Uses: 
    People in many parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand fit flowers and leaves of tree rhododendron in the ropes made up of munja grass (Tripidium bengalense). These ropes are tied around the houses and temples during the celebrations of the Baisakhi or Bishu festival. People in some parts of Uttrakhand dance with a branch of tree rhododendron during the Bissu/Vishu fair. In my opinion, this practice should be discontinued as it damages a large number of plants during the fair. 

 Flowers and leaves of tree rhododendron are being fitted in munja ropes 

(Photograph courtesy: Sumit Sharma)

  Munja ropes are ready to be tied around the houses during Bishu festival

(Photograph courtesy: Sumit Sharma)

References

Ambasta, S.P. (ed.) 1986.  The Useful Plants of India.  CSIR, New Delhi.

Bhandary M.R. and Kuwabata J. 2008.  Antidiabetic activity of Lali Gurans (Rhododendron arboreum) flower. J. Food Sci. Tech. Nepal. 4: 61-63.

Bhatt, N. 2018. Cardio Protective Property of Rhododendron arboretum.    Canadian J. Clinical Nutrition 6: 186-194.

Chauhan, N.S. 1999. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of Himachal Pradesh. Indus Publ. Co., New Delhi.

Jain, S.K. 1991. Dictionary of Indian Folk Medicine and Ethnobotany. Deep Publications, New Delhi.

Lal, B., Vats, S.K., Singh, R.D. and Gupta, A.K. 1996.  Plants used as ethnomedicine and supplementary food by Gaddis of Himachal Pradesh, 384-387.  In: Jain, S.K. (ed.) Ethnobiology in Human Welfare.  Deep Publ., New Delhi.

Lingwan, M., Shagun, S., Pahwa, F., Kumar, A., Verma, D.K., Pant, Y., Kamatam, L.V.K., Kumari, B., Nanda, R.K., Sunil, S. and Masakapalii, S.K. (2021). Phytochemical rich Himalayan Rhododendron arboreum petals inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro. Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.2021287 

Manandhar, N.P.  1980.  Medicinal Plants of Nepal Himalaya.  Ratna Pustak Bhandar, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Verma N., Singh A.P., Amresh G., Sahu P.K. and Rao C.V. 2011. Antidiarrheal potential of standardized extract of Rhododendron arboreum flowers in experimental animals. Indian J of Pharmacol. 43: 689-693.

Watt, G.  1972.  A Dictionary of the Economic Products of India, Vol. I - VI.  Periodical experts.  Delhi (India).