Chamror
Ehretia laevis

Family: Boraginaceae

What it is like

A bushy shrub or tree about 4- 10 m tall. It often has crooked stems and several stems. It is often gnarled and knobby. It loses its leaves during the year. The bark is yellow or grey but not rough. The leaves vary is shape. They are hairy when young and often broad. They become smooth and shiny. The tip is pointed. The flowers are small and white. They are 6 mm long. They are star shaped with 5 spreading petals and in loose clusters. They are in the axils of leaves and at the ends of twigs. The fruit are small bright orange berries. They turn black when ripe.

There are about 50 Ehretia species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the tropics. It grows along forest slopes, roadsides in China. In India is grows up to 800 m in the Himalayas.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, East Timor, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Iran, Japan, Kashmir, Laos, Middle East, Myanmar, Northeastern India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Timor-Leste, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The leaves can be used to give a tea like drink. The inner bark is pounded and eaten mixed with flour as a famine food. The bark is chewed and stains the teeth red. The nuts or seeds have been recorded as eaten. The ripe fruit are eaten raw. The young fruit are pickled.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves, bark, seeds

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or stem cuttings.

In India fruit are produced March to May.

Its other names

Local names

Adak, Addula, Bagari, Bhairo, Bhoiumbar, Chambal, Chamrod, Chamror, Chavandi, Chinor, Darar, Datrang, Datranga, Desi papdi, Geen, Guachipo, Gyaung-byu, Hanbuok-arong, Kadu-milaung, Kappura, Khoda, Koda, Mao e hou ke shu, Masania, Moksoam-kan, Mosonea, Paldatam, Pedda-pilmera, Pisini, Pisinika, Pogari, Pusi pan, Sakar, Tamboli, Tamoiya, Tawkunkauk, Taw-swen-kyauk

Synonyms

Ehretia asper Willd.; Ehretia floribunda Benth.; Ehretia laevis var. platyphylla Merrill; and several others