Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora

Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora Pennell, Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia Monogr. 5: 65 1943. (syn: Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora (Pennell) D.Y.Hong; Picrorhiza lindleyana (Wall.) Steud.; Picrorhiza lindleyana (Wall.) Wettst.; Veronica lindleyana Wall.);  
Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora (= Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora)and Picrorhiza kurrooa are closely related in morphology. Neopicrorhiza has corolla larger than calyx and uppermost lobe of corolla is longer than others, while in P.kurrooa corolla lobes are equal and corolla are shorter than calyx.
Herbs; 3500-4800 m; W-E Nepal: Bhutan, China, N India, N Myanmar as per Annotated checklist of Flowering plants of Nepal;
China (Sichuan, Yunnan), Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, Sikkim as per Catalogue of life;
Common name: Figwort Picrorhiza • Nepali:
कुटकि Kutki 
 

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Unid from Tawang: TQ-Tawang-04 :  Attachments (3). 3 posts by 2 authors.
A small herb with dark purple, almost black, flowers.
Found in Tawang region, Arunachal Pradesh, above 3000 m.
The flowers reminded me of mint family, but the leaves are different.
Please identify

Seems Picrorhiza sp. (Scrophulariaceae). Close to P.scrophulariflora.

Thank you … Seems to be the right ID! The current name is Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora (Pennell) D.Y. Hong


 

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Neopicrorhiza scrophulariflora (Pennell) D.Y.Hong [=Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora] is an important medicinal plant growing wild in sub alpine and alpine zones of Uttarakhand. It is much used in Ayurveda and traded by the name ‘Kutki’ or ‘Kadvi’.
Excessive collection of this herb from wild has led it to a status of Vulnerable in Indian Red Data Book.
A little different form with bigger leaves is identified as Picrorhiza kurroa with similar medicinal properties. However, this form is rarer in nature.
Previously in Scrophulariaceae, it is now placed in Plantaginaceae.
Photographed in Sunderdhunga area, Bageshwar district Uttarakhand.
Interesting that … should have found this plant to be rarer (at least in Uttarakhand) than Picrorhiza kurrooa, given the Wikipedia entry.