Bunkala
Vicia bakeri

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows to 3 m high. The leaves have stalks. The leaves are divided into leaflets along the stalk. These end with a tendril. There are 14-23 leaflets. These are oblong. They are 7-25 mm long. The flowers are pale lilac. They droop. The fruit is a pod. It is 40 mm long and 8 mm wide.

There are about 140 Vicia species. They are mostly temperate.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. In Nepal they grow between 2500-3200 m altitude. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Himalayas, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Tibet

How it is used for food

The tender fruits are boiled and pickled.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Vicia pallida Turc.; Vicia sylvatica L.;