Nai
Taxillus vestitus

Family: Loranthaceae

What it is like

A woody parasitic shrub. It is 0.5-1 m high. The branches are stout. They are round in cross section. There are leans shaped corky spots on the bark. The bark is dark brown. Young parts are softly hairy. The leaves have stalks. The leaves are 4-7.5 cm long by 1.5-4 cm wide. They are oval to sword shaped. They are leathery and brown and hairy underneath. The base is rounded. The flowers are reddish. They occur in the axils of leaves. The fruit is oval and orange. It grows on oaks.

There are about 25 Taxillus species. They occur in Asia.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. In Nepal plants grow to about 2100 m altitude. It grows on Quercus species. In China it grows between 1800-3000 m altitude in S China.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Himalayas, India, Nepal, Pakistan

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

The plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Ban, Bana, Bani

Synonyms

Loranthus vestitus Wall.;