Pyracantha crenulata
(D.Don) M. Roem.
Nepal Firethorn, Nepalese white thorn
(c) Tony Rebelo, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Tony Rebelo
(c) Gianni Del Bufalo bygdb, some rights reserved (CC BY)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Fruit, Leaves - tea
The leaves can be brewed as a tea-like beverage. The ripe fruit is sugar-rich and eaten fresh; each fruit measures 6–8mm in diameter.
Where to Find It
It is a subtropical plant. In Nepal it grows between 1000-2500 m altitude. In grows on open hillsides among other shrubs. In Vietnam it grows at 1,600 m above sea level. In Garhwal Himalayas in India. It suits hardiness zones 7-10. In Sichuan and Yunnan.
Africa, Asia, Australia, Bhutan, China, East Africa, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, SE Asia, Tibet, Vietnam, Zimbabwe,
How to Identify
An evergreen shrub. It grows to about 3 m high. It has spines. The leaves have stalks. They are crowded on short side branches. The leaves are 1.5-5.5 cm long by 0.8-1.8 cm wide. They are oblong or oval. They narrow towards the base. They are rounded teeth. The flowers are on stalks. The flower petals are white. The fruit is round and red. They are 6 mm across.
How to Grow
Plants are grown from seed.
Propagation: Sow seed as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame, removing all fruit flesh first as it can inhibit germination. Stored seed needs 3 months of cold stratification; sow as early in the year as possible in a cold frame. Prick seedlings into individual pots when large enough and grow on in the cold frame through their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of almost mature wood, 5–10cm with a heel, can be taken in mid-August and rooted in a cold frame, then potted up in October or the following spring.
Medicinal Uses
The fruit is dried, powdered, and combined with yoghurt to treat bloody dysentery.
Other Uses
This plant makes an excellent hedge. Its wood is hard, very close and even-grained, and is used for making walking sticks.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Pyracantha crenulata, the Nepalese firethorn, Nepal firethorn or Himalayan firethorn, is a species of firethorn. The native range of this shrub species stretches from northern Pakistan to northwestern India and China.
Other Information
The fruit are eaten in large quantities.
Notes
There are 7 Pyracantha species.
Names & Synonyms
Broad-leaf firethorn, Chaido, Chinese firethorn, Cha-kou-tzu, Choota seb, Duri api cina, Duri api merah, Ghangaru, Ghangyar, Ghingaru, Himalayan firethorn, Kaatha gedi, Small round serrate firethorn, Xiyuanchi Huoji
References (26)
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