Table 1.
Orchids reported in traditional medicine and commercial trade in Nepal
| Scientific name voucher numbera | Local name | Parts usedb | Traditional use | Reference | Commercial trade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Acampe praemorsa (Roxb.) Blatt. & McCann (syn. Acampe papillosa (Lindl.) Lindl.) Subedi 170 |
Parajivi, Rasna (Sanskrit) |
Ra |
Powder used in treating rheumatism and for cooling effect. |
This study |
Medicinal |
|
Aerides multiflora Roxb. Kunwar 101 |
Parajivi, Thuur |
Lf |
Powder used in tonic preparation. |
This study |
Floricultural, medicinal |
|
Aerides odorata Lour. Subedi 172 |
Parajivi |
Lf |
Paste of leaves used externally to treat wounds. |
This study |
Floricultural, medicinal |
|
Brachycorythis obcordata (Lindl.) Summerh. Subedi 150 |
Gamdol |
Tb |
Powder mixed with milk and consumed as tonic. |
[19] |
Medicinal |
|
Bulbophyllum careyanum (Hook.) Spreng. Subedi 220 |
Banharchul, Thuur, Parajivi |
Lf, Pb |
Fresh pulp of pseudobulbs externally applied to burns. Powder of leaves used with honey to induce abortions within 3 months of pregnancy and stimulate recovery from childbirth. |
[10], This study |
Medicinal |
|
Bulbophyllum leopardinum (Wall.) Lindl. ex Wall. Subedi 221 |
Thuur, Parajivi |
Lf, Pb |
Fresh pulp or juice externally applied to burns. |
This study |
Medicinal |
|
Bulbophyllum odoratissimum (Sm.) Lindl. ex Hook. f. Subedi 370 |
Thurjo |
Ep |
Powder used in treating tuberculosis, chronic inflammation and fractures. |
[20] |
Medicinal |
|
Calanthe sylvatica (Thouars) Lindl. Subedi 153 |
Pakha phul |
Fl |
Juice applied to stop nosebleeds. |
[11] |
Floricultural, medicinal |
|
Calanthe plantaginea Lindl. Kunwar 120 |
Ban aduwa |
Rz |
Dry powder consumed with milk as tonic and as aphrodisiac. |
This study |
Floricultural, medicinal |
|
Calanthe puberula Lindl. Subedi 223 |
Ban aduwa |
Rz |
Dry powder consumed with milk as tonic and as aphrodisiac. |
This study |
Floricultural, medicinal |
|
Coelogyne corymbosa Lindl. Subedi 375 |
Chadigava |
Pb |
Paste applied to the forehead to relieve headaches, fresh juice applied to burns as analgesic. |
[7,11,21] |
Floricultural, medicinal |
|
Coelogyne cristata Lindl. Subedi 224 |
Chandigava, Bankera |
Pb |
Freshly collected paste or juice consumed to relieve headaches, fever and for indigestion. Pulp applied to burnt skin. Juice also applied to skin boils and wounded hooves of cattle. |
[1,10,21,22], This study |
Floricultural, medicinal |
|
Coelogyne fimbriata Lindl. Subedi 225 |
Jiwanti (Sanskrit) |
Pb |
Powder used in tonic preparation. |
This study |
Floricultural, medicinal |
|
Coelogyne flaccida Lindl. Subedi 301 |
Chadigava |
Pb |
Paste applied externally or consumed to relieve frontal headaches. Juice taken for indigestion. |
[7,21] |
Floricultural, medicinal |
|
Coelogyne fuscescens Lindl. Subedi 312 |
Bankera |
Pb |
Paste applied externally or consumed to relieve headaches, fever and stomach ache. Paste applied externally on burns. |
This study |
Floricultural, medicinal |
|
Coelogyne nitida (Wall. ex D.Don) Lindl. Subedi 226 |
Banlasun, Thuur |
Pb |
Paste consumed against headaches and fever. Paste applied externally on burns. |
This study |
Floricultural, medicinal |
|
Coelogyne prolifera Lindl. Subedi 227 |
Thuur |
Pb |
Paste consumed against headaches and fever. Paste applied externally on burns. |
[10] |
Floricultural, medicinal |
|
Coelogyne stricta (D.Don) Schltr. Subedi 314 |
Banpyaj |
Pb |
Paste applied externally against headaches and fever. |
This study |
Floricultural, medicinal |
|
Crepidium acuminatum (D.Don) Szlach. (syn. Malaxis acuminata D. Don) Subedi 321 |
Gachno, Gavndamala |
Ra, Pb |
Powder of roots used against burning sensations, to treat fever and to stop bleeding. |
This study |
Medicinal |
|
Cymbidium aloiflolium (L.) Sw. Subedi 228 |
Banharchul, Kamaru, Harjor |
Ep |
Dried powder used as tonic against diarrhea. Fresh paste applied externally over fractured or dislocated bones. |
[10,23] |
Floricultural, medicinal |
|
Cymbidium elegans Lindl. Kunwar 123 |
Thuur |
Ra, Pb |
Fresh juice of pseudobulb consumed to relieve fever. Boiled root juice fed to livestock suffering from cold. |
[21,22] |
Floricultural, medicinal |
|
Cymbidium iridioides D. Don Subedi 315 |
Thuur |
Pb, Lf |
Powder of pseudobulb consumed as tonic. Leaf juice applied externally to stimulate blood clotting in deep wounds. |
[11], This study |
Floricultural, medicinal |
|
Cypripedium himalaicum Rolfe Kunwar 124 |
Khujukpa |
Ep |
Powder and juice consumed for urine retention, against kidney stones, heart disease, chest disorders and coughs. |
[24] |
Medicinal |
|
Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D.Don) Soo Kunwar 103 |
Paanchaunle, Hatajadi |
Tb |
Paste consumed against fever. Powder used topically as hemostatic, or to heal fractures. Decoction consumed against intestinal pain. Tuber, eaten raw or as tonic, or mixed with honey or milk used as stimulant. |
[7,23] |
Medicinal |
|
Dendrobium amoenum Wall. ex Lindl. Subedi 400 |
Thuur |
Pb |
Fresh paste applied topically on burnt skin and dislocated bones. |
This study |
Medicinal |
|
Dendrobium densiflorum Lindl. Subedi 316 |
Sungava |
Pb |
Fresh pulp applied to boils and pimples. |
[21,22] |
Floricultural, medicinal |
|
Dendrobium eriiflorum Griff. Kunwar 104 |
Thurjo |
Pb |
Paste mixed with wheat flour and applied on dislocated or fractured bones. Dried powder used as tonic. |
This study |
Floricultural, medicinal |
|
Dendrobium heterocarpum Wall. ex Lindl. Subedi 317 |
Thuur |
Pb |
Paste mixed with wheat flour and applied on fractured or dislocated bones. |
This study |
Floricultural, medicinal |
|
Dendrobium longicornu Lindl. Subedi 401 |
Kause |
Ra, Pb |
Juice of stems is consumed against fever. Boiled root fed to livestock suffering from coughs. |
[7] |
Floricultural, medicinal |
|
Dendrobium transparens Wall. ex Lindl. Subedi 402 |
Parajivi, Thuur |
Pb |
Paste used on fractured or dislocated bones. |
[10] |
Floricultural, medicinal |
|
Dienia cylindrostachya Lindl. (syn. Malaxis cylindrostachya (Lindl.) Kuntze) Kunwar 132 |
|
Pb |
Powder used as tonic. |
This study |
Medicinal |
|
Epipactis helleborine (L.) Crantz Kunwar 133 |
|
Ra |
Juice consumed to cure insanity and gout. |
[11] |
Medicinal |
|
Eria spicata (D.Don) Hand.-Mazz. Subedi 403 |
Parajivi |
Pb |
Powder consumed during stomach ache, paste applied externally against headaches. |
[11] |
Medicinal |
|
Eulophia dabia (D.Don) Hochr. Kunwar 134 |
Hatti paila |
Rz |
Powder consumed against coughs and heart trouble, also used as tonic and appetizer. |
[1,11] |
Medicinal |
|
Eulophia spectabilis (Dennst.) Suresh (syn. Eulophia nuda Lindl.) Kunwar 135 |
Amarkand |
Tb |
Powder used against worm infestation, scrofula, blood disorders, bronchitis and as appetizer. |
[11] |
Medicinal |
|
Flickingeria fugax (Rchb.f.) Seidenf. Kunwar 140 |
Jiwanti |
Ep |
Powder used as tonic against general debility and as stimulant. |
This study |
Medicinal |
|
Flickingeria macraei (Lindl.) Seidenf. Subedi 319 |
Jiwanti |
Ep |
Paste used against snake bites, general debility, as stimulant and demulcent. |
[1,25] |
Medicinal |
|
Gastrodia elata Blume Subedi 421 |
|
Tb |
Dried powder used as tonic and for treating headaches. |
[11] |
Medicinal |
|
Gymnadenia orchidis Lindl. Kunwar 141 |
|
Tb |
Powder used to treat gastric, urine and liver disorders. |
[11] |
Medicinal |
|
Habenaria intermedia D.Don Subedi 422 |
Riddhi |
Ra, Lf |
Powder used for blood diseases. |
[3] |
Medicinal |
|
Habenaria pectinata D.Don Kunwar 141 |
Seto musli |
Tb, Lf |
Leaf juice applied on snake bites. Tuber used against arthritis. |
[3] |
Medicinal |
|
Luisia trichorrhiza (Hook.) Blume Subedi 320 |
Arjona |
Lf |
Paste applied externally to treat muscular pain. |
[11] |
Medicinal |
|
Luisia tristis (G. Forst.) Hook.f. (syn Luisia zeylanica Lindl.) Subedi 423 |
Bori jhaar |
Ep |
Juice used for treating chronic wounds. |
[11] |
Medicinal |
|
Malaxis muscifera (Lindl.) Kuntze Kunwar 142 |
Jivaka |
Pb |
Paste applied during diathesis, burning sensation, fever, on sores and as tonic. |
This study |
Medicinal |
|
Otochilus albus Lindl. Subedi 370 |
Aankhle laharo |
Ep |
Powder used as tonic. |
This study |
Medicinal |
|
Otochilus lancilabius Seidenf. Kunwar 107 |
Aankhle laharo |
Ep |
Paste applied to fractured and dislocated bones. |
[6] |
Medicinal |
|
Papilionanthe teres (Roxb.) Schltr. Subedi 424 |
Harjor, Thurjo |
Pb, Lf |
Paste externally applied to treat dislocated bones. |
[7] |
Medicinal |
|
Pholidota articulata Lindl. Subedi 368 |
Hadjor |
Ep |
Paste applied on fractured bones and consumed as tonic. |
This study |
Floricultural, medicinal |
|
Pholidota imbricata Lindl. Subedi 367 |
Thurjo, Patharkera |
Pb |
Paste consumed to relieve fever and powder as tonic. |
This study |
Medicinal |
|
Pholidota pallida Lindl. Subedi 369 |
Thurjo, Patharkera |
Rh, Pb |
Paste used to relieve fever, powder to induce sleep and to cure abdominal pain, juice used for navel pain. |
This study |
Floricultural, medicinal |
|
Platanthera edgeworthii (Hook.f. ex Collett) R.K.Gupta (syn. Habenaria edgeworthii Hook.f. ex Collett) Kunwar 145 |
Riddhi |
Rh, Lf |
Powder or paste consumed to cure blood diseases and for cooling. |
[3] |
Medicinal |
|
Pleione humilis (Sm.) D.Don Kunwar 108 |
Shaktigumba |
Pb |
Paste applied on cuts and wounds. Powder used as tonic. |
[7,21] |
Floricultural, medicinal |
|
Pleione praecox (Sm.) D.Don Kunwar 109 |
Shaktigumba |
Pb |
Dried powder consumed with milk as tonic and energizer. Paste externally applied on cuts and wounds. |
[22], This study |
Floricultural, medicinal |
|
Rhynchostylis retusa (L.) Blume |
Chadephuul, Dhogegava |
Ep |
Juice of roots applied to cuts and wounds. Leaf powder used to cure rheumatic diseases. Dried flowers as insect repellent and to induce vomiting. |
[1,7,10,22] |
Floricultural, medicinal |
|
Satyrium nepalense D.Don |
Mishri, Thamni |
Tb |
Dried tubers consumed as tonic against dysentery. Juice consumed against fever and applied on cuts and wounds. |
[7,21] |
Medicinal |
|
Spiranthes sinensis (Pers.) Ames Subedi 451 |
|
Tb |
Powder consumed against headaches as tonic and energizer. |
[19,26] |
Medicinal |
|
Thunia alba (Lindl.) Rchb.f. |
Golaino |
Ep |
Paste used on fractured bones. |
[25] |
Medicinal |
|
Vanda cristata Wall. ex Lindl. Subedi 201 |
Vhagute Phul, Thuur |
Ra, Lf |
Root paste applied to boils and to treat dislocated bones. Leaf powder used as expectorant, paste applied to cuts and wounds. |
[7,21] |
Floricultural, medicinal |
|
Vanda tessellata (Roxb.f.) Hook.ex G.Don (syn. Vanda roxburghii R.Br.) Subedi 467 |
Parajivi, Rasna |
Ra, Lf |
Root used as antidote for scorpion stings, and remedy of bronchitis and rheumatism. Paste of leavesused to treat fevers. |
[3] |
Floricultural, medicinal |
| Zeuxine strateumatica (L.) Schltr. Subedi 200 | Kansjhar | Rt | Dry powder used as tonic. | This study | Medicinal |
aVouchers are deposited at TUCH; bFl, flowers; Lf, leaves; Pb, pseudobulb; Ra, roots; Rz, rhizome; Tb, tubers; Ep, entire plant.