Maesa indica

Family: Primulaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 1-3 m tall. The young branches have hairs. They are angular. The leaf stalk is 1-1.8 cm long. The leaf blade is 8-17 cm long by 5-9 cm wide. It is papery. There are teeth along the edge. The flowers are in the axils of leaves or near the ends of branches. The flowers are white or light yellow. They are about 2 mm across. The fruit is round. The fruit are 2.5 mm across. It has ribs along it.

There are about 200 Maesa species. They are mostly tropical. They are also put in the family Maesaceae. They are also put in the family Myrsinaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in evergreen broad-leaved forest on hillsides and stream banks in damp places between 500-2000 m altitude in S China. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten raw in the Himalayas. The leaves are used in curries. They are also boiled with fish.

The fruit are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit, vegetable

How it is grown

In Northeastern India plants flower from December to March and fruit in January and February.

Its other names

Local names

Arngen, Ar-ngeng, Atki, Awa pat, Awua-pat, Bao chuang ye, Bilaune, Bunga kasi hutan, Chonium, Dieng-soh-jala-tyrkai, Diengsohjala-tyrkai, Dong rang-cua, Etjun jayun, Gadchiana, Guddehargi, Jadum, Jingdum, Jiundali, Kakhum, Kao san moi, Kinbalin-anet, Kirithi, Kiso tinop, Machh-pora, Machpora, Nagapadhera, Purmo-kung, Ramjani, Rau chua chat, Samnakhatok, Sesu, Sirkhi, Tasing moni, Taw-lahpet, Va-kol-kay

Synonyms

Baeobotrys indica Roxb.;