Vaccinium neilgherrense

Wight

Kalavu

Ericaceae Edible: Fruit 4 iNaturalist observations

Has a deadly poisonous lookalike — see comparison below

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Description

A shrub or small tree. The bark is brown with irregular scales. The young branches are hairy. The leaves are simple and alternate. The leaf blades are 5-10 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. They are sword shaped. There are rounded teeth along the edge. The flowers are white or red and in groups in the axils of leaves or near the ends of branches. The fruit is a round berry with many seeds.

Edible Uses

The ripe fruit are eaten raw.

Traditional Uses

The ripe fruit are eaten raw.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows along streams and on the edges of forests between 1,000-2,100 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Asia, India,

Dangerous Lookalikes

This plant can be confused with the following toxic species. Always verify identification carefully before consuming any wild plant.

DEADLY

Deadly Nightshade

Atropa belladonna

Joan Simon from Barcelona, España

Safe

Kalavu

Vaccinium neilgherrense

Deadly Nightshade: Tall herbaceous plant (1-2m), single shiny black cherry-sized berries, star-shaped calyx, large oval leaves, sweet but dangerous taste.

Kalavu: Low woody shrub, berries in clusters with crown/remnant calyx ring, sweet taste.

Synonyms

Epigynium neilgherense Klotzsch

Also Known As

Hollenugu, Kalavu, Kila, Manalamaram, Olenangu

References (5)

Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 666
Calcutta J. Nat. Hist. 8:173. 1847
Ramachandran,V. S., & Udhayavani, C., 2013, Knowledge and uses of wild edible plants by Paniyas and Kurumbas of Western Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu. Indian Journal of Natural Products and Resources. 4(4) December 2013, pp 412-418
Sasi, R. & Rajendran, A., 2012, Diversity of Wild Fruits in Nilgiri Hills of the Southern Western Ghats - Ethnobotanical Aspects. IJABPT, 3(1) p 82-87
www.biotik.org/india