Seabuckthorn
Hippophae rhamnoides subsp. turkestanica

Family: Elaeagnaceae

What it is like

A climbing shrub. It grows 2 m tall. The shoots are often modified into spines. The leaves are 2-6 cm long and 3-6 mm wide. They are narrow. The male flowers are in clusters at the base of the shoots. The female flowers are in clusters of 2-4 and are slender. The fruit is almost round and 6-7 mm across. It is succulent and orange. There is one seed. The seed is 4 mm long. It is black and shiny with unequal lobes.

There are about 8 Hippophae species. The plant is being studied for its health benefits.

Where it is found

It is a cool temperate plant. It grows in cold desert in north India. In the Himalayas it grows between 1,800-3,600 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Asia, Central Asia, China, Himalayas, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Tibet, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

How it is used for food

The fruit are boiled with sugar and eaten. They are acidic. They are used for juice. The juice is also used for curries.

The fruit are acidic and are eaten by children.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Charma, Cherker, Dhurchuk, Kalabisa, Sastalulu, Sermang, sTar-bu, Tsermang

Synonyms

Hippophae tibetana Schlecht.;