Nepal hogweed
Heracleum nepalense

Family: Apiaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows to about 2 m high. The leaves have leaflets along the stalk. These leaflets have irregular teeth. They are slightly hairy. The flowers have stalks and wing like bracts. The flowers are white. The fruit is flat and oval. It is ridged with the edges expanded into wings.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. In Nepal they grow between 1800-3700 m altitude. Mostly they are in moist, shady places. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, Tibet

How it is used for food

The powdered fruit are used as a spice in soup, and with vegetables and roasted foods. They are pickled.

Edible parts

Fruitlets, spice, seeds - spice

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Ban timur, Budho, Chimphing, Sunaga

Synonyms

Heracleum nepalense var. bivittatum C.B.Clarke; Tetrataenium nepalense (D. Don) Manden.;