Table 4 Comparison of collectors’ perception on ecological status with plant density for 16 priority species
From: Ecological status of high altitude medicinal plants and their sustainability: Lingshi, Bhutan
Species | Survey | Collectors’ perception score | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plants per m−2 | Altitude range (masl) | Observed status | Abundance | Threatened | Valuable | Most collected | Status | |
Dactylorhiza hatagirea | 0.40 | 3654–4629 | Concerning | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | Rare and threatened |
Rhodiola crenulata | 0.40 | 4685–5060 | Occurred in very few sites | 13 | 1 | 0 | 5 | Most abundant and 2nd most collected |
Meconopsis horridula | 0.56 | 4466–5058 | – | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | Abundant, threatened, valuable but rarely collected |
Meconopsis simplicifolia | 0.60 | 4022–4895 | Patchy distribution with high demand and scarce | 11 | 8 | 7 | 5 | Most abundant, also threatened, valuable, and most collected |
Gentiana urnula | 1.30 | 4605–5035 | – | 0 | 4 | 9 | 0 | Rare, threatened, 3rd most valuable, and rarely collected |
Fritillaria delavayi | 1.40 | 4466–4759 | Scarce and difficult to collect | 5 | 8 | 12 | 1 | Abundant |
Corydalis dubia | 1.45 | 4294–5039 | Under threat | 0 | 8 | 7 | 0 | Rare, threatened and hardly collected |
Neopicrorhiza scrophulariflora | 2.90 | 4060–4821 | – | 11 | 0 | 1 | 2 | Most abundant, |
Corydalis crispa | 3.30 | 3834–4851 | – | 18 | 7 | 2 | 8 | Most abundant, threatened, medium value and most collected |
Delphinium glaciale | 4.50 | 4953–5060 | Depleted | 0 | 4 | 5 | 4 | Rare, threatened, medium value and occasionally collected |
Veronica celiata | 5.30 | 3774–4629 | Occurs restricted, difficult although high value harvest seed sets | 0 | 9 | 13 | 0 | Rare, threatened, high value, rarely collected |
Aconitum orochryseum | 6.90 | 4191–4526 | – | – | – | 1 | – | – |
Saussurea gossypiphora | 8.00 | 4516–5060 | Collected by very few people | – | – | 1 | – | – |
Chrysosplenium nudicaule | 8.13 | 4455–5060 | – | – | 8 | 11 | 2 | Rare, threatened, high value and occasionally collected |
Nardostachys grandiflora | 8.90 | 3824–4664 | – | 17 | 2 | 5 | 2 | Most abundant, low value and rarely collected |
Onosma hookeri | 15.90 | 3813–4296 | Patchy and confined to narrow altitude range | 7 | 12 | 9 | 3 | Scarce, most threatened, medium value and occasionally collected |