Beauty berry
Callicarpa arborea

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows about 20 m tall. The bark is dark brown, rough and thinly corky. The leaves are opposite and 9-30 cm long by 4-14 cm wide. They are sword shaped and with soft hairs on both surfaces when young. The flowers are light purple. They have a smell. The fruit is fleshy with a stone inside. The fruit is purplish black when ripe.

There are about 140-150 Callicarpa species. Previously in the Verbenaceae family.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in Nepal up to 1500 m altitude. In southern China it grows in mixed forests on mountain slopes between 1,000-2,500 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten fresh. The bark is used as a substitute for betel nut by older people. It is also eaten along with Rubus paniculatus. The leaves are used to ferment soybean. The flowers are fried with meat. They are eaten with chilli, salt and ginger.

Edible parts

Fruit, bark, leaves, flowers

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

In Sikkim fruit are available in November.

Its other names

Local names

Arhi, Arhi-arong, Banitak, Bonmola, Bormala, Dieng-lakhoit, Ghunyalo, Guenlo, Gunmola, Guren, Guyalo, Guyenylo, Gwailo, Hnah-kiah, Jang gaas, Khoja, Lykee, Lalu, Mach kotta, Majonthi, Makanchi, Markunchi, Mashkhanchi, Poirek, Selu, Tara-mah, Tato, Yaohorin

Synonyms

Callicarpa tomentosa var. magna (Schauer) Bakh.; and others