J. Nat. Hist. Mus. Vol.

28, 2014, 127-136

WILD EDIBLE FRUITS OF PALPA DISTRICT, WEST NEPAL

RAS BIHARI MAHATO

Department of Botany, R. R. Multiple campus

Janakpur, Nepal
[email protected]
ABSTRACT
This paper documents the wild edible fruits of tropical and subtropical forest of Palpa District,
West Nepal. Thirty-seven plant species under 17 families and 27 genera were identified as
wild edible fruit. Over 86% percent of them were trees and shrubs (32 species), 11% herbs (4
species) and the remaining 3% (1 species) woody climbers. Moraceae (9 species), Rosaceae (7
species), Anacardiaceae, Berberidaceae, Combretaceae, Fabaceae, Solanaceae and Rutaceae
(2 species each) were the most common families constituting about 75.7% of edible plants. The
remaining 24.3% (9 species) of edible plants were distributed among 9 families and 9 genera.
A considerable number of wild fruits are sold in market. These are Aegle marmelos, Artocarpus
integra, Artocarpus lakoocha, Choerospondias axillaris, Myrica esculenta, Phoenix humilis,
Phyllanthus emblica, Prunus persica, Pyracantha crenulata,Tamarindus indica, Terminalia
bellirica, Terminalia chebula, Zanthoxylum armatum and Zizyphus mauritiana. Medicinal uses
of some major economically important fruits are also documented.
Keywords: tropical, subtropical forest, medicinal uses, wild fruits, sweet nuggets
INTRODUCTION
Wild edible fruits play an important role in the economy of rural people especially living in the
hilly region by providing them food and also in generating side income. They collect the wild
edible fruits from forest and sold in market regularly. The rural people have better knowledge of
wild edible fruits as they visit the forest regularly and have constant association and dependence
on these forests and its products for their livelihood. More often jams, pickles and curry are
prepared from these fruits by local people (Maden,1998). According to Cotton (1997) rural
people not only depend on wild plants as sources of food, medicine, fodder and fuel, but also
developed methods of resource management, which may be fundamental to the conservation
of some of the world’s important habitats.
Manandhar (2002) describes the uses of astonishing 1517 kinds of plants belonging to 858
genera and 195 families in his book Plants and People of Nepal. It is equal to perhaps one-fifth
of the entire Nepalese flora.He reported 1002 medicinal plants, 651 food plants and 696 plants
are used for a rich variety of the other purposes.He also reported that many of the plants have
more than one application.
The study of wild edible fruits in Nepal was carried out by Bhandary (1978), Banerji (1995),
Shrestha (1983), Bajracharya (1984) and Maden (1998).
128 J. Nat. Hist. Mus. Vol. 28, 2014

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study area
The study area is located in Palpa district (27034’ to 27057’ N latitudes and 83015’ to 84022’E
longitudes) (fig. 1). The topographical features of study area vary greatly from lowland of north
foot of Churiya hill, inner mid-hills with terrace lowlands to high Mahabharat range. The altitude
of this district varies from 300 m to 1900 m. It possesses tropical to subtropical types of climate.
Throughout the hill regions loams and sandy loams are the most common soil types, both
on sloping lands and on alluvial terraces. The majority of the forest soils belong to the brown
forest soil category (Singh & Singh, 1992).
Palpa district enjoys a monsoon type of climate with wet summer and dry winter. Maximum
percentage of rainfall occurs during the months of June to September. There is monsoon
climate with hot, wet summer and mild warm dry winter up to 1000 m; but in the Mahabharat
range between 1000 and 2000 m there is a warm temperate monsoon climate with warm and
wet summers and cool and dry winters. During summer months (May and June) the maximum
temperature is recorded as28o and 32o C, while in winter months (December and January) the
minimum temperature reaches to 4o-9oC. Relative humidity is normally highest during rainy
season (June-September), often recorded from 80-87%.
Study areas
Five study areas were selected at different parts in Palpa district for the collection of plants
being used as wild edible fruit on the basis of varied altitude and richness of species, which
also comprised rich cultural diversity (fig.1).
(a) Jhumsa area (350 m): Situated about 29 km south to Tansen at the foot of Churiya hill,
10 km north to Butwal, Rupandehi district.
(b) Styabati lake (872 m): Situated within 25 km south to Tansen.
(c) Prabas area (850 m.): Situated about 9 km south to Tansen, at the foot of the Shrinagar
Dada.
(d) Tansen area (1150-1370 m): District headquarter and surrounding areas of Palpa district,
and
(e) Shrinagar dada (1440 m): Situated on the west-north of main market of Tansen within
two kilometer.
 Mahato : Wild Edible Fruits of Palpa.................129

Syangja

Gulmi

Tanahu
Arghakhanchi

Nawalparasi

Rupandehi

FIG.1. Map of Nepal showing Palpa district in detail.

130 J. Nat. Hist. Mus. Vol. 28, 2014

Plant collection and identification

Plant specimens were collected from their natural habitats in two main seasons, each lasting
three to four months at intervals of 15 days. First collection were made during monsoon (June to
July) and after monsoon (August to November), because most of the plant flourish during these
periods. Second collection was made before monsoon (March to May, 2004 and updated in 2012).
Rural people involved in wild fruit collection and knowledgeable villagers associated with forest are
consulted and interviewed to collect the information about the wild edible fruits during the field trips.
Ethnomedicinal uses of some economically important plants were collected with help of local
healers (Dhami, Jhankari,Guruwa and Vaidya) during the field trips and also with the help of
published literature (Mahato & Chaudhary, 2005).
The plant specimens and edible fruits were collected from the natural habitats, tagged properly
and fruits were stored in plastic bags.The plants specimens were pressed, following the standard
technique (Alexiades,1996; Cunningham, 2001) for voucher specimen preparation. Some of
thespecimens were identified in field and those unidentified were identified at the National
Herbarium and Plant Laboratories, Godawari and Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan
University, Kirtipur.The voucher specimens were deposited at Central Department of Botany,
Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur.
Nomenclature of the plant species follows Hara et al. (1978,1982), Hara & Williams (1979) and
Press et al. (2000). The local names were noted in the field and also consulting the literature
by Shrestha (1998), Grierson & Long (1983), Noltie (1994) were given. The plant species are
arranged alphabetically followed by local name, family, growth form (GF), edible parts and
fruiting season.
RESULTS
Thirty-seven plant species, distributed among 17 families and 27 genera were identified as wild
edible fruits (table1). Over 86% percent of them were trees and shrubs (32 species),11% herbs
(4 species) and the remaining 3% (1 species) woody climbers. These are Aegle marmelos,
Artocarpus integra, Artocarpus lakoocha, Bauhinia vahlii, Berberis asiatica, Cannabis sativa,
Castanopsis indica, Choerospondias axillaris, Diospyros malabarica, Duchesnea indica,
Ficus auriculata, Ficus benghalensis, Ficus glaberrima, Ficus racemosa, Ficus semicordata,
Ficus subincisa, Fragaria nubicola, Maesa macrophylla, Mahonia napaulensis, Morus serrata,
Myrica esculenta, Phyllanthus emblica, Phoenix humilis, Prunus persica, Pyracantha crenulata,
Pyruspashia, Rhus javanica, Rubus ellipticus, Rubus paniculatus, Solanum nigrum, Solanum
torvum, Syzygium cumini, Tamarindus indica, Terminalia bellirica, Terminalia chebula,
Zanthoxylum armatum and Zizyphus mauritiana.
Discussion
Thirty-seven species of wild edible fruit were reported in Palpa district. Of them the family
Moraceaewith 9 species,Rosaceae with 7 species, Anacardiaceae, Berberidaceae,
Combretaceae, Fabaceae, Solanaceae and Rutaceaewith 2 species each. These were the
most important families constituting about 75.7% of edible plants.The remaining 24.3% (9
species) of edible plants were distributed among 9 families and 9 genera. A considerable
 Mahato : Wild Edible Fruits of Palpa.................131

number of wild fruits are sold in market for their fruits and medicinal value. These are Aegle
marmelos, Artocarpus integra, Artocarpus lakoocha, Choerospondias axillaris, Myrica esculenta,
Phyllanthus emblica, Prunus persica, Pyracantha crenulata, Syzygium cumini, Tamarindus
indica, Terminalia bellirica, Terminalia chebula, Zanthoxylum armatum and Zizyphus mauritiana
(table 2) .
Fruits of Choerospondias axillaris (Lapsi) are widely used in pickles, jam, candy and various
kinds of sweet nuggets (Titaura) preparation. Fruits of Phyllanthus emblica (Amla) are used
in sweets, sauce, pickles and various kinds of sweet nuggets preparation. Similarly, fruits of
Tamarindus indica (Imali) are used in jam, pickles, sauce and various types of sweet nuggets
preparation.These plants (Choerospondias axillaris, Phyllanthus emblica and Tamarindus
indica) are employed on commercial level to prepare various kinds of sweet nuggets with
different taste.Sweet nugget is sold in local market as well as exported to other parts of the
country.
Fruits of Myrica esculenta (Kaphal) have characteristic taste and sold in market on large scale
by different rural people. Ripe fruits are eaten raw with salt. The walking stick prepared from
mature stem of Pyracantha crenulata is sold in market. Similarly, the fruits of Zanthoxylum
armatum are sold in local market by various rural people. These are used as pickles and spices.
Thus, the result shows that the wild edible fruits play an important role in the economy of rural
people and a large number of people are involved in selling of wild fruits to fulfill their daily needs.
Medicinal uses of some major economically important fruits are also documented. These are
Aegle marmelos, Choerospondias axillaris, Myrica esculenta,Phyllanthus emblica, Tamarindus
indica, Terminalia bellirica, Terminalia chebula and Zanthoxylum armatum (table 2). Among
them Aegle marmelos, Phyllanthus emblica,Terminalia bellirica,Terminalia chebula and
Zanthoxylum armatum are the most common medicinal plants used in different parts of the
district.Fruit of Aegle marmelos is used to cure constipation and dyspepsia. One fourth of an
unripe fruit is taken orally to cure diarrhoea and root juice is used to cure fever (Mahato &
Chaudhary, 2005). Dried fruit of Phyllanthus emblica is used to cure diarrhoea. Juice of fresh
fruit is taken orally to cure indigestion, jaundice, anaemia and heart complaint (Mahato &
Chaudhary, 2005). Roasted fruits of Terminalia bellirica are chewed to improve sore throats.
They are eaten three times a day for a week to cure cough. Roasted fruits of Terminalia
chebula are chewed to improve sore throats. They are eaten three times a day for a week to
cure cough. Dried fruits of Phyllanthus emblica, Terminalia bellirica,Terminalia chebula are
used in the preparation oftriphalachuran (powder of three myrobalans) an Ayurvedic medicine
used for liver and gastrointestinal troubles. The triphalachuran (powder of three myrobalans)
is used throughout the country.
Decoction of fruit of Zanthoxylum armatum prepared in a cup of water with salt is taken warm
before bedtime to relieve abdominal pain. Powder of fruit is taken orally with warm water to
treat constipation, stomach disorder and toothache. These results were compared with Mahato
& Chaudhary (2005).
ACKNOWLEGEMENTS
I am thankful to the people of the Palpa district who kindly shared their indigenous knowledge
132 J. Nat. Hist. Mus. Vol. 28, 2014

throughout the field study. Without their participation this research would not have been possible.
I am grateful to National Herbarium and Plant Laboratories, Godawari (KATH), Nepal for their
cooperation in plant identification.
REFERENCES
Alexiades, M N (1996) Selected guidelines for ethnobotanical research: a field manual.The New York
Botanical Garden, NY, USA.
Bajracharya, D (1984) Some edible wild fruits of Kathmandu Valley. In Majupuria, T C (ed) Nepal Nature`s
Paradise. White Lotus Co. Ltd., Bangkok, Thailand.
Banerji, M L (1955) Some wild edible and medicinal plants of east Nepal. Jour. Bomb. Nat. Soc. 35:153–155.
Bhandary, H R (1978) Biochemical analysis of some edible wild fruits (at ripe and unripe stages) of
Kathmandu Valley. MSc. dissertation, Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur,
Kathmandu, Nepal.
Cotton, C M (1997) Ethnobotany: principles and applications.John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, UK.
Cunningham, A B (2001) Applied ethnobotany: people, wild plant use and conservation.Earthscan
Publication Ltd. London, UK.
Grierson, A J C; Long, D G (1983) Flora of Bhutan.Vol. I- II.Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh and Royal
Government of Bhutan.
Hara, H; Williams, L H J (1979) An enumeration of the flowering plants of Nepal. Vol. II. British Museum
(Natural History) London, UK.
Hara, H; Chater, A O; Williams, L H J (1982) An enumeration of the flowering Plants of Nepal. Vol. III.
British Museum (Natural History) London, UK.
Hara, H; Stearn, W T; Williams, L H J (1978) An enumeration of the flowering plants of Nepal, Vol. 1.
British Museum (Natural History) London, UK.
Maden, K (1998) General survey and biochemical analysis of wild edible fruits of Koshi zone, eastern
Nepal. Journal of Tribhuvan University 21(1): 77–84.
Mahato, R B; Chaudhary, R P (2005) Ethnomedicinal plants of Palpa district, Nepal.Ethnobotany 17:
152–163.
Manandhar, N P (2002) Plants and people of Nepal. Timber press Inc., USA.
Noltie, H J (1994) Flora of Bhutan.Vol.111 part 1. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
Noltie, H J (2000) Flora of Bhutan.Vol. 111part 2. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and Royal Government
of Bhutan.
Press, J R; Shrestha, K K; Sutton, D A (2000) Annotated checklist of the flowering plants of Nepal. The
Natural History Museum, London, UK.
Shrestha, K (1983) Wild leafy and fruity vegetable consumed by the local inhabitants of Dharan. Jour.
Nat. Hist. Mus. 7: 35–42.
Shrestha, T B (1998) Plant conservation in Nepal. A country paper presented in India. Subcontinent plant
specialist group meeting at Corbett National Park, India, 7–9 January 1998.
Singh, J S; Singh, S P (1992) Forest of Himalaya. Gyanodaya Prakashan Nainital, India.
 Mahato : Wild Edible Fruits of Palpa.................133

TABLE 1. Wild edible fruits of Palpa distict.

Edible Fruiting
S.N. Species Local name Family GF Elevation
part season
1 Aegle marmelos (L.) Bel Rutaceae T Fruit April- 870 m
Correa September
2 Artocarpus integra Kathar Moraceae T Fruit April-June 350 m
(Thunb.) Merr.
3 Artocarpus lakoocha Badahar Moraceae T Fruit April-June 350 m
Wall. ex Roxb.
4 Bauhinia vahlii Wight Bhoralo Fabaceae WC Seed June-July 850 m
and Arn.
5 Berberis asiaticaRoxb. Chutro Berberidaceae S Fruit April-May 1300 m
ex DC.
6 Cannabis sativa L. Bhang Cannabaceae H Seed April-May 350 m
7 Castanopsis indica Dalne katus Fagaceae T Fruit November- 1400 m
(Roxb.) Miq. December

8 Choerospondias Lapsi Anacardiaceae T Fruit June- 1200 m

axillaris October
Roxb.
9 Diospyros malabarica Khalluk Ebenaceae T Fruit December- 1200 m
(Desr.) Kostel. February
10 Duchesnea indica Bhui kaphal Rosaceae H Fruit March-June 1300 m
(Andrews) Focke
Sarpe
11 Ficus auriculataLour. Nevaro Moraceae T Fruit November- 1300 m
December
12 Ficus benghalensis L. Bar Moraceae T Fruit December- 850 m
January
13 Ficus glaberrima Pakhri Moraceae T Fruit December- 870 m
Blume January
14 Ficus racemosa L. Dumari Moraceae T Fruit November- 1100 m
December
15 Ficus semicordata Khanyu Moraceae T Fruit November- 1100 m
Buch. December
-Ham. ex Sm.
16 Ficus subincisa Buch.- Berulo Moraceae T Fruit December- 870 m
Ham. ex Sm. January

17 Fragaria nubicola Bhuiainselu Rosaceae H Fruit August- 1300m

Lindl. ex Lacaita October
134 J. Nat. Hist. Mus. Vol. 28, 2014

18 Maesa macrophylla Bhogate Myrsinaceae S Fruit June-July 1100 m

A. Dc.
19 Mahonia napaulensis Jamane mandro Berberidaceae S Fruit April-May 1300 m
DC.
20 Morus serrata Roxb. Kimbu Moraceae T Fruit April-June 1200 m
21 Myrica esculenta Ham. Kaphal Myricaceae T Fruit March- April 1400 m
Ex. D. Don
22 Phoenix humilis Royle Thakal Palmae T Fruit March-May 350 m
ex Becc. & Hook. f.

23 Phyllanthus emblica L. Amla Euphorbiaceae T Fruit September- 350 m

November
24 Prunus persica (L.) Aaru Rosaceae T Fruit July- 1100 m
Batsch September
25 Pyracantha crenulata Ghangaru Rosaceae S Fruit July- 1100 m
(D. Don) M. Roem September
26 Pyrus pashia Buch.- Mayal Rosaceae T Fruit September- 1400m
Ham. ex D. Don October
27 Rhus javanica L. Bhaki amilo Anacardiaceae T Fruit September- 1300 m
October
28 Rubus ellipticus Sm. Ainselu Rosaceae S Fruit March-April 1300 m
29 Rubus paniculatus Sm. Kalo ainselu Rosaceae S Fruit August- 1400 m
October
30 Solanum nigrum L. Kamayo Solanaceae H Fruit Most of the 350 m
year
31 SolanumtorvumSwartz Bin Solanaceae S Fruit August- 850 m
September
32 Syzygium cumini (L.) Jamun Myrtaceae T Fruit May-June 350 m
Skeels
33 Tamarindus indica L. Imali Fabaceae T Fruit June-July 350 m
34 Terminalia bellirica Barro Combretaceae T Fruit May-June 350 m
(Gaertn.) Roxb.
35 Terminalia chebula Harro Combretaceae T Fruit May-June 350 m
Retz.
36 Zanthoxylum armatum Timur Rutaceae S/T Fruit May- 870 m
Dc. October
37 Zizyphus mauritiana Baer Rhamnaceae S/T Fruit January– 350 m
Lam February
Abbreviation used in table1. GF- Growth Form; H- Herb; S- Shrub; T-Tree; WC- Woody Climber
 Mahato : Wild Edible Fruits of Palpa.................135

TABLE 2. Some of the major economically important fruits and their uses.

Species Local Uses

Name
Aegle marmelos Bel Ripe fleshy part of fruit is eaten. In summer season sarabat is
made from its edible fleshy part of fruits.
Medicinal uses
Root juice is used to cure fever. Half of a ripe fruit is eaten
twice a day for 3-4 days to cure constipation and dyspepsia.
One fourth of an unripe fruit is taken orally to cure diarrhoeaand
root juice is used to cure fever (Mahato & Chaudhary, 2005).
Artocarpus integra Katahar Ripe fleshy part of fruit is eaten. Raw fruits are eaten as
vegetable and pickles.
Artocarpus lakoocha Badahar Ripe fleshy part of fruit is eaten.
Choerospondias Lapsi Ripe fleshy part of fruit is eaten. Its fruit is used in jam,
axillaris pickles, candy and various kinds of sweet nuggets
preparation.
Medicinal uses
Ash of seeds mixed with coconut oil is used to cure wounds
and burns. Seeds are also used to remove cough.
Myrica esculenta Kaphal Ripe fruit is eaten with salt.
Medicinal uses
Bark decoction is used to cure diarrhoea, dysentery and chronic
bronchitis (Mahato & Chaudhary, 2005).
Phyllanthus emblica Amla Its fruit is used in sweets, sauce, pickles and various kinds of
sweet nuggets preparation.
Medicinal uses
Powder of dried fruit (two teaspoonfuls) is given twice a
day for 7 days to cure diarrhoea and dysentery. About
two teaspoonfuls juice of fresh fruit is taken orally twice
a day for 15 days to cure indigestion, jaundice, anaemia
and heart complaint. Dried fruit is used in the preparation
of “Triphala”(powder of three myrobalans), an Ayurvedic
medicine used for liver and gastrointestinal troubles (Mahato
& Chaudhary, 2005).
Prunus persica Aaru Ripe fleshy part of fruit is eaten. Its fruit is used in jam and
pickles preparation.
Pyracantha crenulata Ghangaru Ripe fruit is eaten. Its mature stem is used in walking stick
preparation and sold in market.
Syzygium cumini Jamun Ripe fruit is eaten. Wood is used in furniture preparation.
136 J. Nat. Hist. Mus. Vol. 28, 2014

Tamarindus indica Imali Its fruit is used in jam, pickles, sauce and various types of
sweet nuggets preparation.
Medicinal uses
Juice of ripen fruit is taken for 7 days for abdominal cooling
property and digestive effect (Mahato & Chaudhary, 2005).
Terminalia bellirica Barro Fleshy part of fruit is eaten raw.
Medicinal uses
Two roasted fruits are chewed twice a day for 3 days to
improve sore throats. They are eaten three times a day
for a week to cure cough. It is one of the constituents of
“Triphala”(powder of three myrobalans)which is used in liver
and gastrointestinal troubles.

Terminalia chebula Harro Fleshy part of fruit is eaten raw.

Medicinal uses
Two roasted fruits are chewed twice a day for 3 days to
improve sore throats. They are eaten three times a day for a
week to cure cough. It is one of the constituents of “Triphala”
(powder of three myrobalans) which is used in liver and
gastrointestinal troubles.
Zanthoxylumarmatum Timur Fruit is eaten raw. It is mainly used as pickle and spices.
Medicinal uses
Decoction of fruit prepared in a cup of water with
salt is taken warm before bedtime for 2-3 days to relieve
abdominal pain. Powder of 2-5 fruit is taken orally twice a
day for 7 days with warm water to treat constipation, stomach
disorder and toothache (Mahato & Chaudhary 2005).
Zizyphusmauritiana Baer Matured and ripe fruit is eaten raw.