Wild edible fruits used by the tribals of Dimapur district of

Nagaland, India

Pleione 5(1): 56 - 64. 2011. ISSN: 0973-9467

© East Himalayan Society for Spermatophyte Taxonomy

Renchumi Mozhui, Rongsensashi, Limasenla and Sapu Changkija1

Department of Botany, Nagaland University, Hqs: Lumami, Mokokchung 798 601, Nagaland, India1Department ofGenetics & Plant Breeding, SASRD, Nagaland University, Campus: Medziphema; Medziphema 796106, Nagaland, India

E-mail: renchumimozhui@yahoo.in

Abstract

[Received revised & accepted: 01.04.2011]

Dimapur district of Nagaland (Northeast India) with its diverse topographic and climatic conditionsharbours rich floristic wealth, of which many are fruit plants. The paper deals with 98 species of wildedible fruits belonging to 58 genera and 38 families collected from Dimapur district during 2006 – 2010.

Key words: Wild fruits, Edible, Dimapur, Nagaland

INTRODUCTION

Dimapur district is located at the foothills of Patkai mountain range towards the South- westernpart of Nagaland in Northeast India. The district with an area of 927 sq km lies between 25o 402- 25o 562 N Latitude and 93 o 332 - 94 o 022 E Longitude. Dimapur district is the home for alldifferent tribes of Nagaland. The district harbours rich floristic diversity as a result of its variedaltitudinal zone and climatic conditions. The altitude ranges from 250 m–1150 m above mean sealevel. The climate is hot and humid during summer and cool and pleasant during winter. Tropicalsemi-evergreen and tropical moist deciduous type of forests are found in the district. Some dominanttree species in the area include Terminalia myriocarpa Heurck & Mueller, Artocarpus chaplashaRoxburgh, Dillenia indica Linnaeus, Sapium baccatum Roxburgh, Albizzia chinensis (Osbeck)Merrill, Sterculia villosa Roxburgh, Gmelina arborea Linnaeus etc. The shrubby and herbaceousspecies constitute Clerodendrum viscosum Ventanat, Mussaenda roxburghii Hooker f., Osbeckiarostrata D. Don, Eupatorium adenophorum Sprengel, Randia spinosa (Thunberg) Poiret,Ageratum conyzoides Linnaeus, Bidens pilosa Linnaeus, Mimosa pudica Linnaeus, etc.

An interesting aspect of the Flora of Dimapur district is the occurrence of a wide variety ofwild relatives of crop plants. Apart from these a wide range of medicinal plants such as Rauvolfiaserpentina Bentham ex Kurz, Curcuma sp., Aquillaria agallocha Roxburgh, Paederia foetidaBentham, Litsea citrata Blume etc. occur in these forests. The ethnic tribal people still mostlydepends on different types of forest produces for their food, fruits, medicine and various otherneeds. As the district is occupied by all the different tribes of Nagaland, the usage of the wildedible fruits is varied; each has their own way of savoring the fruits either raw or pickled orroasted or boiled or made into jams, juice and squash. Some of these fruits are sold in localmarkets and are in high demand by the tribals and tourists as well.

Though traditional wild plants including wild fruits are in use since time immemorial, nodocumentation has been done from the district except for some few papers from the state (Jamir& Rao 1990; Jamir 1996; Takatemjen et al 2009; Changkija et al 2010) and the knowledge stilllies with the tribals. Therefore, an attempt has been made to document the wild edible fruits

available and used in the Dimapur District of Nagaland.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was conducted during 2006 – 2010 during field trips to various parts of Dimapur Dis-trict. Information on the use of wild fruits was collected through interaction with local people,

personal experiences, observations and survey of the local market. Collected specimens wereprocessed using the routine herbarium techniques as recommended by Jain & Rao (1977). Iden-tification was done with the help of published floras (Hooker 1872 - 1897; Kanjilal et al 1934 –1940; Bora & Kumar 2003). Voucher specimens are deposited in the Herbarium of the Depart-

ment of Botany, Nagaland University.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In the present study altogether 96 angiospermous and 2 gymnospermous species of wild fruitshave been documented those are belonging to 58 genera and 38 families. The recorded wild ediblefruits have been presented in Table-1 with their Botanical names arranged alphabetically, followedby family, local name, exsiccatae and mode of use.

Table 1. Wild edible fruits of Dimapur district

Name [Family] Exsiccatae Local name Mode of use

Adenia trilobata (Roxburgh) Engler Renchumi 858 Lemshinokjang Seeds eaten

[Passifloraceae] (Ao) fresh

Amomum subulatum Roxburgh [Zingiberaceae] Renchumi 867 Melangthi Seeds as spice/ eaten

(Lotha) fresh

Artocarpus chaplasha Roxburgh [Moraceae] Renchumi 1493 Jaremjang (Ao) Pulp eaten fresh,

seeds after boiling

Artocarpus gomezianus Wallich [Moraceae] Renchumi 1284 Sungkup Sali - do -

(Ao)

Artocarpus lakoocha Roxburgh [Moraceae] Renchumi 1456 Etothi (Lotha) - do -

Baccaurea ramiflora Loureiro [Euphorbiaceae] Renchumi 1264 Otumethi Arils eaten fresh

(Lotha)

Beilschemiedia roxburghii Nees [Lauraceae] Renchumi 1232 Arnjang (Ao) Ripe fruits are eaten

Bischofia javanica Blume [Bischofiaceae] Renchumi 872 Jalijang (Ao) Berries eaten

Broussonetia papyrifera Ventenat [Moraceae] Renchumi 801 Mamajang (Ao) Ripe fruits are eaten

Calamus erectus Roxburgh [Arecaceae] Renchumi 1236 Aghawi Fruits eaten fresh or

(Rengma) pickled

Canarium bengalense Roxburgh [Burseraceae] Renchumi 1257 Chakronthi Fruits are eaten raw

(Lotha) or dried

Canarium strictum Roxburgh [Burseraceae] Renchumi 877 Chakronthi Fruits are eaten raw

(Lotha) or dried

Caryota urens Linnaeus [Arecaceae] Renchumi 1498 Maype (Konyak) Seeds are eaten

Castanopsis hystrix DC. [Fagaceae] Renchumi 850 Thyosolothi Roasted nuts are

(Lotha) eaten

Castanopsis indica A. DC. [Fagaceae] Renchumi 887 Kozujang (Ao) - do -

Castanopsis tribuloides (Smith) A.DC. Renchumi 1475 Thezarshi - do -

[Fagaceae] (Angami)

Cissus repanda Vahl [Vitaceae] Renchumi 1444 Arem tsukme- Ripe fruits are eaten

natsu (Ao) fresh

Curculigo capitulata (Loureiro) O. Kuntze Renchumi 890 Tsuyantong - do -

[Hypoxidaceae] (Lotha)

Debregeasia longifolia (Burman f.) Weddell Renchumi 900 Tsunyu Berries are eaten fresh

[Urticaceae] (Angami)

Dillenia indica Linnaeus [Dilleniaceae] Renchumi 1445 Aitrang (Kuki) Fruits as vegetable

Dillenia pentagyna Roxburgh [Dilleniaceae] Renchumi 1446 Mingmechet (Ao) Ripe fruits eaten raw/

pickled

Renchumi Mozhui et al 57

Dillenia scabrella (D. Don) Roxburgh Renchumi 1477 Shiti kozu Ripe fruits eaten raw/

[Dilleniaceae] tilaba (Ao) pickled

Diospyros kaki Thunberg [Ebenaceae] Renchumi 1279 Komi (Ao) Fruits eaten fresh

Diospyros variegata Kurz [Ebenaceae] Renchumi 1462 Komi (Ao) Fruits eaten fresh

Docynia indica (Wallich) Decaisne [Rosaceae] Renchumi 809 Malanthi Fruits are eaten fresh/

(Lotha) preserved

Elaeagnus conferta Roxburgh [Elaeagnaceae] Renchumi 1235 Kotarangjang Fruits are eaten fresh/

(Ao) pickled

Elaeagnus pyriformis Hooker f. [Elaeagnaceae] Renchumi 1201 Kotarangjang - do -

(Ao)

Elaeocarpus floribundus Blume [Elaeocarpaceae] Renchumi 1495 Sungamerem (Ao) - do -

Elaeocarpus lanceaefolius Roxburgh Renchumi 1651 Sungameren (Ao) - do -

[Elaeocarpaceae]

Elaeocarpus prunifolius Wallich Renchumi 1671 Sungameren (Ao) - do -

[Elaeocarpaceae]

Elaeocarpus sphearicus (Gaertner) Renchumi 1271 Sunganerem (Ao) - do -

K. Schumann [Elaeocarpaceae]

Emblica officinalis Gaertner [Euphorbiaceae] Renchumi 1473 Ashuli (Rengma) Fruits eaten fresh,

pickled/ made into

juice

Ensete glaucum (Roxburgh) Cheesman Renchumi 1300 Rayuthi (Lotha) Ripe fruits are eaten

[Musaceae]

Ficus auriculata Loureiro [Moraceae] Renchumi 1254 Mamojang (Ao) - do -

Ficus benghalensis Linnaeus [Moraceae] Renchumi 1433 Ngisa (Ao) - do -

Ficus fulva Reinwardt [Moraceae] Renchumi 1674 Koro (Ao) - do -

Ficus heterophylla Linnaeus f. [Moraceae] Renchumi 1408 Koro (Ao) - do -

Ficus hirta Vahl [Moraceae] Renchumi 888 Pangsem (Ao) - do -

Ficus hispida Linnaeus f. [Moraceae] Renchumi 855 Nithutong (Lotha) - do -

Ficus racemosa Linnaeus [Moraceae] Renchumi 1277 Thathesu (Sumi) - do -

Ficus semicordata Buchanon-Hamilton Renchumi 1241 Koronem (Ao) - do -

ex Smith [Moraceae]

Ficus subincisa Buchanon-Hamilton ex Renchumi 1653 Koro (Ao) - do -

J.E. Smith [Moraceae]

Firmiana colorata (Roxburgh) R. Brown Renchumi 1676 Anemtong (Ao) Roasted seeds are

[Sterculiaceae] eaten

Fragaria indica Anderson [Rosaceae] Renchumi 899 Jalinkhumthera Berries eaten fresh

(Lotha)

Fragaria nilgerrensis Schlechtendal ex Renchumi 1434 Jalinkhumthera - do -

J. Gay [Rosaceae] (Lotha)

Garcinia atroviridis Griffith [Clusiaceae] Renchumi 1436 Sentola tilaba Pulp eaten fresh,

(Ao) rinds as spice

Garcinia cowa Roxburgh [Clusiaceae] Renchumi 1453 Aghatsa (Sumi) - do -

Garcinia indica Choisy [Clusiaceae] Renchumi 1665 Sentola tilaba - do -

(Ao)

Garcinia pedunculata Roxburgh [Clusiaceae] Renchumi 876 Aghatsa (Sumi) - do -

Garcinia tinctoria (DC.) W.F. Wight Renchumi 1298 Sentola tilaba - do -

Syn. G. xanthochymus Hooker f. [Clusiaceae] (Ao)

Gnetum gnemon Linnaeus [Gnetaceae] Renchumi 837 Mhalivo (Lotha) Roasted seeds are

eaten

58 Wild edible fruits of Dimapur, Nagaland

Name [Family] Exsiccatae Local name Mode of use

Gnetum montanum Markgraf [Gnetaceae] Renchumi 851 Milemjang (Ao) - do -

Hodgsonia macrocarpa (Blume) Cogniaux Renchumi 1432 Tofu (Lotha) - do -

[Cucurbitaceae]

Hovenia dulcis Thunberg [Rhamnaceae] Renchumi 1668 Jiji (Ao) Fruits eaten fresh

Juglans regia Linnaeus [Juglandaceae] Renchumi 865 Nothi (Lotha) Roasted seeds are

eaten

Lantana camara Linnaeus [Verbenaceae] Renchumi 1687 Mangashetsu Fruits eaten fresh

(Ao)

Mangifera andamanica King [Anacardiaceae] Renchumi 806 Ratsupyongthi Fleshy pulp eaten

(Lotha) fresh or pickled

Mangifera sylvatica Roxburgh [Anacardiaceae] Renchumi 1414 Arem titi (Ao) - do -

Melastoma normale D. Don [Melastomataceae] Renchumi 1234 Tughaloji Shedu Seeds are eaten fresh

(Sumi)

Morus indica Thunberg [Moraceae] Renchumi 876 Momontsungthi Ripe fruits are eaten

(Lotha) fresh

Morus macroura Miquel [Moraceae] Renchumi 1253 Momontsungthi - do -

(Lotha)

Murraya koenigii (Linnaeus) Sprengel Renchumi 821 Phazuvothi Fruits as spice

[Rutaceae] (Lotha)

Musa acuminata Colla [Musaceae] Renchumi 1669 Arem mongu Fruits are eaten,

(Ao) spathe as vegetable

Mussaenda roxburghii Hooker f. [Rubiaceae] Renchumi 885 Worosuthan Ripe fruits are eaten

(Lotha) raw

Myrica esculenta Buchanon-Hamilton ex Renchumi 1693 Metiyong (Ao) Fruits eaten fresh,

D. Don [Myricaceae] pickled or made into

juice

Neolamarckia cadamba (Roxburgh) Bosser Renchumi 893 Kisalo (Ao) Ripe fruits are eaten

[Rubiaceae] raw

Nephelium lappacium Linnaeus [Sapindaceae] Renchumi 1655 Arem litchi(Ao) Aril is eaten fresh

Nephelium longana Cambessedes [Sapindaceae] Renchumi 1688 Arem litchi(Ao) - do -

Osbeckia nepalensis Hooker f. [Melastomataceae] Renchumi 1209 Kouke (Angami) Seeds are eaten fresh

Osbeckia rostrata D. Don [Melastomataceae] Renchumi 802 Phao Shanshi - do -

(Konyak)

Oxalis corniculata Linnaeus [Oxalidaceae] Renchumi 1287 Echuilishakthi Fruits eaten fresh

(Lotha)

Parthenocissus semicordata (Roxburgh) Renchumi 1443 Arem tsukme- Ripe fruits eaten

Planchon [Vitaceae] natsu (Ao) fresh

Passiflora adenophylla Masters [Passifloraceae] Renchumi 1465 Arem ents - do -

-ulashi (Ao)

Passiflora foetida Linnaeus [Passifloraceae] Renchumi 807 Nhabel (Angami) - do -

Prunus nepaulensis (Seringe) Steudel [Rosaceae] Renchumi 1438 Mesu (Ao) Fruits eaten fresh or

made into juice

Pyrus pashia D. Don [Rosaceae] Renchumi 1691 Arem naspati(Ao)Fruits eaten fresh or

preserved

Randia densiflora Bentham [Rubiaceae] Renchumi 1496 Tepakjang (Ao) Fruits eaten raw

Randia dumetorum (Retzius) Lamarck [Rubiaceae] Renchumi 1439 Tepakjang (Ao) - do -

Renchumi Mozhui et al 59

Name [Family] Exsiccatae Local name Mode of use

Rhus semialata J. Murr [Anacardiaceae] Renchumi 861 Tamushe Fruits eaten fresh or

(Chakesang) powdered

Rubus ellipticus Smith [Rosaceae] Renchumi 811 Morok jemben Berries eaten fresh

(Ao)

Rubus rugosus Smith [Rosaceae] Renchumi 1286 Morok jemben - do -

(Ao)

Saurauia roxburghii Wallich [Sauraujaceae] Renchumi 1449 Ajichila (Ao) Fruits are eaten

Saurauia armata Kurz [Sauraujaceae] Renchumi 1222 Ajichila (Ao) - do -

Smilax ovalifolia Roxburgh [Smilacaceae] Renchumi 1273 Fupro (Angami) Fruits eaten fresh

Spondias axillaris Roxburgh [Smilacaceae] Renchumi 857 Khula (Angami) Ripe fruits eaten fresh

Spondias mangifera Willdenow [Anacardiaceae] Renchumi 802 Emungthi (Lotha)Fruits eaten fresh or

dried

Sterculia coccinea Roxburgh [Sterculiaceae] Renchumi 1437 Sungkorong (Ao)Roasted seeds are

eaten

Sterculia versicolor Wallich [Sterculiaceae] Renchumi 1477 Nemja (Ao) - do -

Sterculia villosa Roxburgh [Sterculiaceae] Renchumi 866 Nemja (Ao) - do -

Stixis suaveolens (Roxburgh) Baillon Renchumi 1664 Hamvuthi Pulp eaten fresh,

[Capparaceae] (Lotha) seeds as spice

Syzygium cumini (Linnaeus) Skeels [Myrtaceae] Renchumi 1292 Shilongthi Ripe fruits are eaten

(Lotha) fresh

Terminalia chebula Retzius [Combretaceae] Renchumi 881 Yankhothi Fruits are eaten fresh

(Lotha) or dried

Tetrastigma lanceolarium Planchon [Vitaceae] Renchumi 1659 Poto lashi (Ao) Ripe fruits are eaten

fresh

Trichosanthes wallichiana (Seringe) Wight Renchumi 891 Lemshinokjang Ripe fruits are eaten

[Cucurbitaceae] (Ao) raw

Willughbeia edulis Roxburgh [Apocynaceae] Renchumi 1695 Zhuthi (Lotha) Sweetish pulp are

eaten fresh

Zalacca secunda Griffith [Arecaceae] Renchumi 1689 Kothi (Lotha) Young seeds are

eaten raw

Zizyphus oenoplia (Linnaeus) Miller Renchumi 864 Arem pokuri (Ao) Ripe fruits are eaten

[Rhamnaceae] fresh

Zizyphus rugosa Lamarck [Rhamnaceae] Renchumi 1221 Ora Bukuri - do -

(Lotha)

Fruits such as Emblica officinalis, Garcinia sp., Rhus semialata, Terminalia chebula Retzius

etc. have high medicinal value and are used extensively by the tribals. Ash from barks of Emblica

officinalis, Terminalia chebula, Syzygium cumini are used in curry as spices. Barks are peeled

off from the standing tree and burnt to ashes over a metal sheet. The ashes are collected in a glass

bottle. It is used to neutralize acid while cooking sliced bamboo shoots. It is also added while

boiling vegetables to retain colour. Fruits of Dillenia indica, Amomum subulatum, Emblica

officinalis, Garcinia sp., Myrica esculenta and Rhus semialata are eaten fresh as well as

added to curry as spice (Changkija et al 2010).

Young fruits of Artocarpus sp., spathe of Musa acuminta Colla and matured fruits of

Dillenia sp. are used as vegetable. Seeds of Artocarpus sp., Castanopsis sp., Firmiana colorata,

Gnetum sp., Hodgsonia macrocarpa, Juglans regia and Sterculia sp. are eaten after roasting.

Fruits of Canarium bengalense, Canarium strictum, Docynia indica, Emblica officinalis,

60 Wild edible fruits of Dimapur, Nagaland

Name [Family] Exsiccatae Local name Mode of use

PLATE - I

Figures 1 – 12: 1. Myrica esculenta, 2. Emblica officinalis, 3. Prunus napaulensis 4. Spondias axillaris, 5.Spondias mangifera, 6. Elaeagnus latifolia, 7. Artocarpus chaplasha, 8. Dellinia indica, 9. Mangiferaandamanica, 10. Garcinia tinctoria, 11. Garcinia atroviridis, 12. Garcinia pedunculata

Renchumi Mozhui et al 61

Myrica esculenta, Pyrus pashia, Spondias mangifera, Terminalia chebula, Zizyphus rugosa,

Zizyphus oenoplia, are either eaten raw or dried. The juicy extract of Docynia indica, Pyrus

pashia, Emblica officinalis, Myrica esculenta, Prunus nepaulensis are much sought and

cherished by the tribals for their refreshing drinks. Fruits of Elaeagnus sp., Elaeocarpus sp.,

Emblica officinalis, Garcinia sp., Mangifera sp., Myrica esculenta, Prunus nepaulensis,

Spondias mangifera, Terminalia chebula, Zizyphus sp. are eaten fresh or pickled.

1 2 3

4 56

7 8 9

10 11 12

62 Wild edible fruits of Dimapur, Nagaland

agaland

PLATE - II

Figures 13 – 24: 13. Garcinia indica, 14. Gnetum gnemon, 15. Gnetum montanum, 16. Zalacca secunda, 17.Sterculia coccinea, 18. Sterculai villosa, 19. Terminalia chebula, 20. Hodgsonia macrocarpa, 21. Murrayakoenigii, 22. Syzygium cumini, 23. Tetrastigma lanceolarium, 24. Parthenocissus semicordata.

Species which are already in cultivation for their fruits are Artocarpus chaplasha,

Artocarpus lakoocha, Baccaurea ramiflora, Dellinia indica, Gnetum gnemon, Broussonetia

papyrifera, Calamus erectus, Canarium bengalense, Canarium strictum, Caryota urens,

Elaeagnus conferta, Elaeagnus pyriformis, Elaeocarpus floribundus, Emblica officinalis,

Ficus benghalensis, Hodgsonia macrocarpa, Juglans regia, Morus indica, Murraya koenigii,Myrica esculenta, Pyrus pashia and Terminalia chebula. Some of these wild edible fruit plantssuch as Baccaurea ramiflora, Dellinia indica, Gnetum gnemon, Canarium bengalense,

13 14 15

16 17 18

19 20 21

22 23 24

1

PLATE - III

Figures 25 – 36: 25. Trichosanthes wallichiana, 26. Hovenia dulcis, 27. Diospyros kaki, 28. Stixis suaveolens,29. Docynia indica, 30. Nephelium longana, 31. Nephelium lappacium, 32. Baccaurea ramiflora, 33.

Amomum subulatum, 34. Broussonetia papyrifera, 35. Passiflora foetida, 36. Adenia trilobata.

Renchumi Mozhui et al 63

Canarium strictum etc. can be grown for mass production so as to improve the economic conditionof the tribals as these fruits are in high demand in the market.

Year after year due to forest fires, demand for land for the increasing population, jhumcultivation, forest products and fuel wood collection, the natural forests are being rapidly destroyed.Therefore, there is an urgent need for conservation and protection of these rich and diverse wildedible fruits before they are completely destroyed and becomes totally extinct from the area.

Acknowledgements

Authors would like to thank the Tribals inhabiting Dimapur district for sharing their valuable knowl-

edge and the Department of Forests, Environment, Ecology and Wildlife, Govt. of Nagaland for

the financial support for the survey. The first and second authors are thankful to University Grants

Commission for financial assistance.

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64 Wild edible fruits of Dimapur, Nagaland