Seabuckthorn: Granted GI Status
Spiti’s seabuckthorn has been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) status.
- Seabuckthorn is popularly known as the ‘Wonder Plant’, ‘Ladakh Gold’, ‘Golden Bush’, or ‘Gold Mine’ of cold deserts.
- It is an important plant of trans-Himalayan region that belongs to the family Elaegnaceae.
- Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is a plant found throughout Europe and Asia.
- In India, it is found above the tree line in the Himalayan region, generally in dry areas such as the cold deserts of Ladakh and Spiti.
- It produces small orange or yellow-coloured berries that are sour in taste but rich in vitamins, especially vitamin C.
- Sea Buckthorn berries have a unique characteristic of remaining intact on the shrub throughout the winter months despite the subzero temperature.
- It is a temperate shrub.
- It can withstand a wide range of temperatures from -43 to 40°C. This unique feature enables the species to adapt very well in harsh climatic conditions.
- The dense and thorny bushes of sea buckthorn are salt tolerant and demand full sunlight for growth.
- The shrub develops an extensive root system having ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen.
- It is an ideal plant for soil erosion control, land reclamation, wildlife habitat enhancement and farm stand protection in temperate regions.
