Nepalese cherry, Khasi cherry
Padus napaulensis

Family: Rosaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows to about 7 m high. The leaves have stalks. The leaves are oblong to sword shaped and taper to the tip. They have teeth along the edge. The flowers are white and in long terminal clusters. The fruit are purplish or blackish brown.

There are about 200 Prunus species.

Where it is found

Temperate. In Nepal it grows between 1600-3000 m altitude. It is frost hardy. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

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

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten raw. (The seeds are not eaten.) The fruit are also used for wine to give a purple colour.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

In China plants flower in April and fruit in July. In the Indian Himalayas flowers occur in October to November and fruit mature August and September.

Its other names

Local names

Aaru pate, Aroopaty, Delaoji, Jangali aaru, Khashi, Messusu, Mokhoshi, Ngau chi, Saiong, Soh-iong

Synonyms

Cerasus napaulensis Seringe; Cerasus glaucifolia Wall.; ? Prunus napaulensis (Ser.) Steud.;