East wintergreen, Checkberry, Himalayan snowberry
Gaultheria trichophylla

Family: Ericaceae

What it is like

A small shrub which lies along the ground. It has wiry, branches with rough hairs. The leaves have short stalks. The leaves are alternate. They are 0.5-1.4 cm long by 0.2-0.4 cm wide. The leaves are oblong with rounded teeth along the edge. The flowers occur singly. They are in the axils of leaves and are pinkish white. The fruit is a capsule. It is round and covered with a fleshy blue outer ring of petals. It is edible. There are many very small seeds.

There are about 170 Gaultheria species.

Where it is found

A subtropical plant. In Nepal it grows from 2700-4500 m altitude. In Uttar Pradesh in India it grows between 2500-4000 m altitude. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Northeastern India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sikkim, Tibet

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten raw. They are sweet and have a scent. The leaves are used for tea.

The fruit are eaten by children.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves - tea

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed or root offshoots.

In the Himalayas it flowers May-June and fruits July to October.

Its other names

Local names

Aak-mrep, Ani gnonzing, Bher, Bhui kaphal, Bhuil, Bhuinala, Chhewaa, Gundung, Jheri, Dwarf false snowberry, Saachaan, Shachando, Sombu, Tunglu, Vish

Synonyms

Brossaea trichophylla (Royle) Kuntze; Gaultheria nana C. Y. Wu & T. Z. Hsu; Pernettya nana, ?