Pyracantha Crenulata: Uttarakhand’s Botanical Marvel
Indian Himalayas is a house to more than 8000 species of vascular plants out of which more than 1700 are known for their medicinal properties. Indian hawthorn, scientifically known as Pyracantha crenulata (D. Don) M. Roem. Syn., formerly classified as Crataegus crenulata Roxb. is native to the Himalayan hills. Referred to locally as “Ghingharu” in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. The authority for this species is D. Don, which stands for David Don, a Scottish botanist who described many plant species during the 19th century. This species holds significant ecological importance in the Himalayan foothills, being prevalent in regions spanning Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and the northeastern states of India and Nepal.