Bebali kanda
Caragana brevispina

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A spiny shrub. It grows to 2 m high. The leaves are 8 cm long. The leaves are divided into leaflets along the stalk. The leaflets are oval and hairy underneath. There are prickles along the midrib. The flowers are yellow. There are 2-4 flowers in a cluster. The fruit is a pod. It is straight and like a cylinder. The pod is woolly inside. It is 4-5 cm long.

There are 80 Caragana species. They grow in temperate continental climates.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in Nepal at 2400-3500 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 6-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Central Asia, Himalayas, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Tajikistan

How it is used for food

The young buds are cooked as a green vegetable. The fresh flowers are eaten raw. The flower nectar is sucked.

The young flowers are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Seeds, young flowers

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Bhalu kanda, Jhilu, Kyiwa, Ohamshing, Tanhaling, Zomoshing, Zomosing

Synonyms

Caragana bicolor Komarov; Caragana triflora Lindl.; Caragana williamsii Vassiljeva;