Ethnobotany Nepal Himalaya 2008

Working in conjunction with Tribhuvan University (Kathmandu), this multi-national group of scientists from the University of Aberdeen (one UK, two Irish and one Dutch) carried out a multi-disciplinary study of medicinal plants, growing at an altitude of up to 5,000m in Langtang and Manang. Unfortunately, the flowering season for the main species – Himalayan Poppy or Meconopsis – is between July and September, so the team was forced to contend with monsoon weather plus leeches and other associated hazards. Nevertheless they were successful in their aims, though full analysis of the data will take some time. The team collected soil samples in addition to plant samples.