Phenological studies of medicinal plants have been less explored especially for plants confined in the Himalayan region (India). Here we describe detailed phenological stages of Megacarpaea polyandra Benth. ex Madden. This perennial species belongs to the family Brassicaceae and is commonly known as Barmola or Barmau, being a highly valued traditional endemic medicinal plant of Himalaya. Seven principal growth stages from seed germination to senescence as per BBCH (Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt und CHemische Industrie) scale have been described along with secondary growth stages. Barmola exhibited a long juvenile vegetative phase (~ 3 to 4 years) compared to the short reproductive development typical of long-lived semelparous species. The long vegetative phase is characterized by leaf development coupled with an increase in root size. Roots constitute the storage organ from which Barmola translocates resources for development in subsequent periods. At the time of inflorescence emergence (last growth cycle), Barmola root’s reached their maximum size, and the translocation of resources coupled with leaf development sustain the reproductive effort of this species, culminating then with fruit ripening and plant death. The application of the BBCH scale was useful to identify the leaf development phase as the most critical growth stage on Barmola. Future conservation strategies aimed to protect Barmola wild populations should incentive the cultivation of this species to warrant their sustainable use among farmers from the Himalayas.

药用植物的物候研究较少，特别是对喜马拉雅地区（印度）的植物。在这里，我们描述了Megacarpaea polyandra Benth 的详细物候阶段。前任Barmola 的根达到了它们的最大尺寸，资源的易位加上叶子的发育维持了该物种的繁殖努力，最终果实成熟和植物死亡。BBCH 量表的应用有助于将叶片发育阶段确定为 Barmola 上最关键的生长阶段。旨在保护 Barmola 野生种群的未来保护战略应该鼓励该物种的种植，以保证它们在喜马拉雅山农民中的可持续利用。