Salyan is home to rare and endangered fern species
Unyu, a rare and endangered tree species, has been officially recorded in western Nepal, found in Darma and Kapurkot communities. Nepal’s Botanical Research Centre reports four Cyathea species, two endangered, one rare, and one critically endangered, with the Unyu species in Salyan community forests. The species is generally found between 750 and 2,000 meters above sea level in eastern and central Nepal. However, in China’s Taiwan, it grows in thick woods at elevations ranging from 300 to 2,500 meters. Unyu was recently found in Salyan’s community forests, confirming that its current distribution encompasses eastern, central, and western Nepal.
The delicate Unyu tree shoots are eaten as a vegetable and are known locally as “Daure.” It has also been used historically in herbal remedies for skin conditions, cancer, diabetes, kidney disease, TB, and eye infections. In other places, it’s also used as ornamentation. In Kumakh Rural Municipality, Unyu, Kankatsingha, Ban Champa, Sunakhari, and Tatealo have all been designated as endangered, and conservation efforts are being carried out by the botanical office. Unyu is a type of tree fern that is mostly found in subtropical areas and has significant ecological, biological, and educational advantages, according to Sharma.
