Heracleum wallichii

Family: Apiaceae

What it is like

A herb or small shrub. It grows 60 cm tall and keeps growing from year to year. The leaves are divided 1-2 times with 3-5 leaflets. The leaflets are deeply 3 lobed. They are 2-7 cm long by 1-4 cm wide. The end lobe is the largest. It has small teeth along the edge. The flowers are in groups from a common base and 3-8 cm across. The fruit are oval and 7-10 mm long by 6-8 mm wide.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. In Sikkim it grows between 1,500-3,300 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, Himalayas, India, Nepal, Northeastern India, Sikkim

How it is used for food

The fruit are used in pickles. The flowers are also used in pickles. The seeds are used for chutney.

Edible parts

Fruit, flowers, seeds - spice

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seed or division.

Its other names

Local names

Chimphing, Ganaro, Gante, Phalut, Singalila, Tanglu

Synonyms

Heracleum diversifolium Wall.; Peucedanum diversifolium Benth. & Hook.f.;