Kukar-daru
Smilax elegans

Family: Smilacaceae

What it is like

A climber. The leaves are 8-35 cm long by 15-42 mm wide. They are oval with a rounded or heart shaped base. There is a tip at the end. The flowers are small and purple. The fruit are round berries 4 mm across. They are blue black.

There are about 300 Smilax species.

Where it is found

Western Himalayas. In Pakistan it grows between 1,000-2,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, India, Myanmar, Pakistan, SE Asia

How it is used for food

The tender shoots are boiled and eaten with salt and sometimes mixed with curd.

Edible parts

Leaves, shoots

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Smilax glaucophylla Klotsch; Smilax parviflora Wall. ex Hook.f.;