Wild Himalayan Pear, Pashia Pear
Pyrus pashia

Family: Rosaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 8-12 m high. It loses its leaves during the year. The leaves have stalks. The leaves are smooth. They are 3-7 cm long by 1.5-3 cm wide. They are oval to sword shaped. They taper to the tip. They have shallow rounded teeth along the edge. They are shiny and are often woolly underneath on young plants. The flowers are white. They have stalks. The fruit is round and covered with white dots.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. In Vietnam it grows between 1,000 and 2,000 m altitude. In Nepal it grows between 700-2600 m altitude. It grows in open, rocky places. In Yunnan in China it grows between 1000-1500 m altitude. It grows in secondary forest. It suits hardiness zones 5-9. Arboretum Tasmania. In Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Asia, Australia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Iran, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, NW India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sikkim, Tasmania, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam

How it is used for food

Ripe fruit are eaten raw or salted. They are eaten when very ripe. They are also dried and ground and mixed with wheat or millet flour. The autumn leaves are used as tea drink. The young shoots, leaves and flowers are eaten as vegetables.

It is sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Fruit, flowers, leaves - tea, leaves

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Arem naspati, Batangay, Batangi, Bulthing, Chalthei, Chitishi, Chotia, Ghandali, Guo kei gai, Ja-toh, Kaenth, Kainth, Kean schein, Kitsu, Magwgai, Mahal, Mak chong, Mak chong pa, Mapak chi, Mayal, Mehal, Mehel mol, Mel, Melal, Melu, Moc-cot, Mol, Mole, Nashpati, Naspati, Nepalese wild pear, Passi, Sakhaw, Sano mayal, San tan ngai, Shagal, Shegal, Sheghel, Shiara, Si li, Soh-jhur, Soh-shur, Suilan, Tang liu guo, Tanchi, Tang, Tangai, Tangeer, Taoshi, Tayana, Thittaw-thi-pin, Thulo mayal, Vul, Zha shuo si li

Synonyms

Malus pashia (Buch.-Ham. ex Don) Wenz.; Pyrus crenata D. Don; Pyrus kumaoni Decne ex Hook.f.; Pyrus variolosa Wall. ex G. Don; Pyrus verruculosa Bertol.;