| Girardinia diversifolia | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Urticaceae |
| Genus: | Girardinia |
| Species: | G. diversifolia
|
| Binomial name | |
| Girardinia diversifolia (Link) Friis
| |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Girardinia diversifolia, commonly known as the Himalayan nettle[2] or Nilghiri nettle,[3] is a plant species native to Nepal and in the Himalayan parts of India such as Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir and in vast parts of China.[4] It grows naturally at elevations between 1,200 to 3,000 metres (3,900 to 9,800 feet). It is a shade tolerant, tall, stout and erect herb growing up to 3m height with perennial rootstock. The plant grows as a clump, and each clump has many stems. The stem contains bast fiber of unique quality which is strong, smooth and light.[5]
Description[edit]
It is a 1.5 to 3 metres tall[6] perennial herbaceous shrub that grows without cultivation all over Nepal.[7] It most frequently occurs in the hilly and mountainous regions at altitudes up to 3000 m.[8]
Vernacular names[edit]
The plant is locally known as:
- Sisaun in Kumauni language
- Kandaali in Garhwali language
- 'Nepalese allo
- "Kungs" in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh
- "Thurche" in Badugu language in the Nilgiris district
Uses[edit]
Traditional users of Allo are ethnic groups from across Nepal, including the Kulung, Gurung, Magar, Rai and Tamang people.[9] Allo products are culturally important to both the Gurung[9] and the Rai.[8] It is also sold for commercial and non-religious purposes.[7] Non-fibre uses of the plant range from fodder and fuel wood,[8] to use as a live fence and in traditional medicines.[9] Allo fibre is very flexible and has high tenacity,[10] allowing it to be used in a multitude of applications ranging from clothing and bags to floor mats and rope.[9][11][12] Fibres made from allo are fully biodegradable.[10]
Gallery[edit]
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Inflorescence -
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Seedling -
Seeds
References[edit]
- ^ "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- ^ "Girardinia diversifolia". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
- ^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
- ^ url=
- ^ Assessment of Allo Production and Enterprise Potential in Parbat District
- ^ Singh, S.C.; Shrestha, R (1988). "Girardinia diversifolia (Urticaceae), a non-conventional fiber resource in nepal". Economic Botany. 42 (3): 445–447. doi:10.1007/BF02860167. JSTOR 4255095.
- ^ a b Dunsmore, J (1998). "Microenterprise development: Traditional skills and the reduction of poverty in highland nepal". Himalaya, the Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies. 18 (2): 22–27.
- ^ a b c Barakoti, T; Shrestha, K (2008). "Commercial utilization of allo (Girardinia diversifolia) by the rais of sankhuwasabha for income generation". Banko Janakari. 18 (1): 18–24. doi:10.3126/banko.v18i1.2162.
- ^ a b c d Gurung, A; Flanigan, H; Kumar Ghimeray, A; Karki, R; Bista, R; Gurung, O.P. (2012). "Traditional knowledge of processing and use of the himalayan giant nettle (Girardinia diversifolia (Link) Friis) among the Gurungs of Sikles, Nepal". Ethnobotany Research and Applications. 10: 167–174. doi:10.17348/era.10.0.167-174. hdl:10125/23553.
- ^ a b Bajpai, P.K.; Meena, D; Vatsa, S; Singh, I (2013). "Tensile behavior of nettle fiber composites exposed to various environments". Journal of Natural Fibers. 10 (3): 244–256. doi:10.1080/15440478.2013.791912.
- ^ Shrestha, R (1999). "Improvements on the traditional harvesting practice of girardinia diversifolia". Tropical Agriculture Research and Extension. 2 (1): 74–75.
- ^ Dunsmore, J (1998). "Crafts, cash and conservation in highland nepal". Community Development Journal. 33 (1): 49–56. doi:10.1093/cdj/33.1.49.