Sicho-heinch
Saurauia punduana
Family: Actinidiaceae
What it is like
An evergreen tree. It grows 6 m tall. The young branches are hairy. The leaves are narrowly oval and 33 cm long by 11 cm wide. There are brown hairs underneath the leaves. The flowers are small and white but change to pink. The fruit are round berries.
Also put in the family Saurauiaceae.
Where it is found
It is a subtropical plant. In Sikkim it grows between 300-1,200 m above sea level. In Tibet it grows in broad-leaved forests on mountains between 700-1,700 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Myanmar, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, Tibet
How it is used for food
The ripe fruit are eaten.
Edible parts
Fruit, flower buds
How it is grown
In Sikkim fruit are available October to December.
Its other names
Local names
A-rong-ma, Gaba, Dieng-ja-la-ngap, Gaba, Hinchi, Maraw, Numraw, Patok, Rata gagon, Safa, Taan, Tiar