Charchari
Tetrastigma serrulatum

Family: Vitaceae

What it is like

An evergreen climber. The stems climb by means of both roots from the nodes and tendrils. The leaves have stalks. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The leaflets are 1.5-9 cm long by 0.6-3 cm wide. They are oval to sword shaped and taper to the tip. They have teeth with a ridged point. The flowers are yellowish. They are in a more or less flat topped or umbrella shaped head. The fruit is round and black when ripe. They are up to 1.2 cm across. There are 2 seeds.

Where it is found

A subtropical plant. In Nepal it grow to about 2400 m altitude. It southern China it grows in forests on hillsides between 500-2,900 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, Thailand, Tibet

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten fresh.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

In China plants flower in March to June and fruit July to November.

Its other names

Local names

Baragaunlo, Barkhyu lahara, Charchare jhar, Charchare lahara, Ju-bae-ru, Koratilata, Pureni, Saibra, Sla-ngnar, Zaibra

Synonyms

Cissus serrulata Roxb.; Cissus napaulensis DC; Tetrastigma indicum M.Maulik; Vitis affinis Gagne.ex Osmaston; Tetrastigma affine (Gagn.ex Osmaston) Raiz & Sax. Vitis capriolata D.Don; Cissus capriolata (D.Don) Royle;