About

Fritillaria cirrhosa, common name yellow Himalayan fritillary, is an Asian species of herbaceous plant in the lily family, native to China (Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Tibet, Yunnan), the Indian subcontinent (Nepal, Pakistan, India, Bhutan), and Myanmar. It is in danger of extinction, due to be being aggressively collected to make a traditional Chinese medicine, Bulbus fritillariae cirrhosae or Chuan-bei-mu. It is a Class III protected species in China's National Protected Medicinal Plants Red-List

How to grow it

Domestication and cultivation of Fritillaria cirrhosa is difficult due to needing specific habitat conditions, meaning majority of its cultivation comes from the wild. This cultivation of the wild Fritillaria cirrhosa has led to a decrease in its population, putting it near extinction because of over-harvesting and over-grazing. They are largely harvested in the western Sichuan Province.

Conservation matters are attempted to be made, such as in the western Sichuan Province. Similarly, populations in areas like the Yunnan Plateau are important for conservation because of the high genetic diversity in the area. There have been successful cultivations in the Kangding county, which can likely lead to a decrease of harvesting of the wild populations.

Where it grows

The plant is commonly found in alpine slopes and shrublands of the Himalayas, at altitudes of 2,700–4,000 m (9,000–13,000 ft). They are also found in moist places like flood lands, and other areas such as meadows, forests, and alpine thickets.

Other Fritillaria plants

Fritillaria acmopetala · Checker lily · Stinkbells · Fritillaria alburyana · Fritillaria anhuiensis · Fritillaria assyriaca · Spotted fritillary · Chocolate lily · Chocolate lily · Greenhorn fritillary · Kamchatka fritillary · Fritillaria chitralensis