Saussurea laniceps

Taxobox
name = "Saussurea laniceps"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Asterales
familia = Asteraceae
tribus = Cynareae
genus = "Saussurea"
species = "S. laniceps"
binomial = "Saussurea laniceps"
binomial_authority = Hand.-Mazz.

"Saussurea laniceps" (common name Snow Lotus, shared with several other similar species of "Saussurea") is a rare plant found only in the Himalaya and southwest China above about 3500 m altitude. It is reputed to have medicinal properties according to traditional Chinese medicine. Recently extracts of the plant have been studied as possible cancer-fighting agents.

Preferential collection of the larger plants of the species for medicinal use appears to be causing natural selection to favour shorter plants in areas that are heavily harvested. Plants in an area that is protected are about 9 cm taller than plants in the harvest areas. Another closely related plant that is not as desirable to collectors, "Saussurea medusa", shows no height differences between the protected area and the harvest area. The height differences in the plant may have unknown effects such as reduction of seed production due to shorter stalks but no studies have been done to ascertain the effects.

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