Aporosa octandra

Family: Phyllanthaceae

What it is like

A shrub or tree. It grows 15 m tall. The trunk is 30 cm across. The bark is light brown and flaky with ridges along it. The bark is cracked into squares. The bark is red inside. It keeps its leaves throughout the year. The leaves are narrowly oval with short leaf stalks. They are 5-23 cm long by 2-8 cm wide. The base is rounded or wedge shaped and the edges can be wavy or have teeth. The flowers are very small and of separate sexes. The fruit are oval and 9-13 mm long by 6-10 mm wide and have a beak. There is usually one seed.

Also put in the family Euphorbiaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical and subtropical plant. In the Himalayas it grows up to 900 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicobar Islands, Northeastern India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Thailand

How it is used for food

The young leaves are boiled and eaten. The ripe yellow fruit are eaten raw. The bark is used to make a fermented drink.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit, bark - drink, vegetable

How it is grown

In southern India plants fruit February to May.

Its other names

Local names

Archal, Bara heloch, Barkaunli, Bor heloch, Chawntual, Chham chholja, Chhambolji, Chhamolja, Chipli khari, Garo khuta, Kahbhalai, Kam phnie ng, Khempasi, Khempasiba-phang, Khoidoi, Khokora, Kokra, Masania, Mossu, Pat kharolla, Samphere, Sawntuol, Sontul, Suantual, Tamsir-arong, Tamsir

Synonyms

Alnus dioica Roxb.; Aporosa dioica (Roxb.) Mull.Arg.; Aporosa microcalyx Hassk.; Aporosa oblonga Mull.Arg. Aporosa roxburghii (Wall. ex Lindl.) Baill.; Aporosa villosula Kurz.; Myrica octandra Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don; and several others