Diploknema butyracea

(Roxb.) H. J. Lam

Indian butter tree

Sapotaceae Edible: Kernel, Fruit, Flowers, Nuts, Seeds - oil 16 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Diploknema butyracea (Nepali: चिउरी, Chiuri), the Nepali butter tree, or the Indian butter tree, is a multi purpose tree native to the foothills of the Himalayas. An estimated number of chiuri in Nepal has been given as approximately 10.8 million trees, geographically distributed in 46 districts. It is a large tree of family Sapotaceae, flowers during cold season and fruit ripens in June–July. It commonly occurs in the sub Himalayan tract between 300-1500m from sea level.

Description

A deciduous tree. It grows to about 20 m high. The leaves are 14-30 cm long by 7.5-16 cm wide. They are crowded near the ends of branches. They are oval and taper towards the end. They are hairy underneath. The flowers are crowded at the ends of branches. They are yellow. The fruit is a berry. It is pear shaped with one or two seeds. The fruit shape varies.

Edible Uses

Fat is extracted from the seeds and named chiuri ghee or phulwara butter. D. butyracea is useful for block planting and also to be grown in the ravines of hills. The latex yielding plant such as D. butyracea suits to different edapho-climatic conditions and thus does not compete with the traditional crops. The chiuri tree has been utilised for many uses by rural households in Nepal. Ghee is used in daily cooking, as fuel for lamps, and body lotion; the fruit is eaten fresh and use for alcohol distillation, oil-cakes are utilised as manure, and the tree itself is used as firewood. Additionally, it also has significant cultural and livelihood associations with the Chepang community (Nepali:चेपांग) of Nepal and are given as dowry to daughters. Because of its cultural significance, it has been recognised as a cultural keystone species of central Nepal's Chepang people.

Traditional Uses

The juice of the inner flower parts is boiled into a syrup. This is used as a sugar. The juicy pulp of the ripe fruit is eaten raw. It has a scent and is sweet. It can be used for jam or pickles. The butter extracted from the seeds is used for cooking and lighting. It is used for cocoa butter in chocolate and in margarine. The seeds are also fermented. The seeds are roasted or fried and eaten.

Medicinal Uses

The juice of the bark is used to treat indigestion. Mixed with the bark juice of Berberis asiatica, it is used in the treatment of asthma. This juice is also used as an anthelmintic and is applied in cases of rheumatic pain and boils. The oil from the seed is applied externally in the treatment of headaches, rheumatism, boils, pimples and burns.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. In Nepal it grows between 300-1500 m altitude.

Where It Grows

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, Tibet,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed. Seeds germinate in about 30 days.

Other Uses

An oil obtained from the seed is used for lighting. It is also used for making soap and candles. The seed residue, after the oil has been extracted, is used as a fertilizer that helps to protect plants from harmful insects and worms. The leaves are used as plates. The wood is used for furniture and fuel. Planted to prevent soil erosion.

Production

Yields can be 5-155 kg per tree.

Other Information

Fruit are sold in markets.

Nutrition

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Fruit	68.6	—	—	3.8	—	—	1.8	—

Synonyms

Aesandra butyracea (Roxb.) BaehniAisandra butyracea (Roxb.) BaehniBassia butyracea Roxb.Illipe butyracea (Roxb.) EnglerMadhuca butyracea (Roxb.) MacbrideMixandra butyracea (Roxb.) Pierre ex DubardVidoricum butyaceum (Roxb.) Kuntze

Also Known As

Bhalel, Cheuli, Cheuri, Chewra, Chewri, Chiura, Chiuree, Chiuri, Chivree, Chiwree, Chuirii, Churi, Chyuri, Chyuro, Finsheng, Pauktu, Phalwara, Pholwara, Phoolwa-oil plant, Phulvara, Phulwa, Yel, Yelkung, Yelpote, Yika

References (45)

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Bajpai, O., et al, 2015, Tree species of the Himalayan Terai region of Uttar Pradesh, India: a checklist. Check List 11(4): 1718

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