Tibetan sea buckthorn, Sand thorn
Hippophae tibetana

Family: Elaeagnaceae

What it is like

A thorny deciduous shrub. It grows to about 50 cm high. The leaves have short stalks. They can be alternate of opposite. They are 1-2 cm long and 0.2-0.6 cm wide. They are narrow and sword shaped. They are leathery with silvery brown scales on both surfaces. The flowers are yellow in clusters in the axils of leaves. They appear with new leaves. The fruit is oblong or round and orange or bright scarlet when ripe.

There are about 8 Hippophae species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in cold desert in north India. In Nepal plants grow between 3800 and 4200 m altitude. They grow on rocky or sandy ground. It is cold hardy down to -10°C.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sikkim, Tibet

How it is used for food

The acidic ripe fruit are eaten raw or pickled. The fruit is used to prepare a juice drink. They are boiled with sugar to form preserves.

The juice is sold commercially.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

The fruit are less sour if they remain on the tree until after the first frost.

Its other names

Local names

Ames, Armalito, Bhui chuk, Bhuinchuk, Chichisin, Sastalulu, Star bu, Tarbu, Tarbu satar, Tarbu shing, Taruwa chuck, Tirsuk, To ra, Tsermang, Turuchuk

Synonyms

Hippophae rhamnoides auct non L.;