Rubus ellipticus
Smith
Golden evergreen raspberry, Himalayan yellow raspberry
(c) Siddarth Machado, some rights reserved (CC BY)
(c) David Espinel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by David Espinel
What to Eat
Edible parts: Fruit
The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked and has a good raspberry-like flavour — sweet with a pleasant balance of acidity. The golden yellow fruit is about 10mm in diameter. Annual yields from wild plants in the Himalayas average around 750g per plant occupying 2.5m². The fruit contains approximately 10.9% sugars, 1.1% protein, 0.5% ash and 0.55% pectin.
Dangerous Lookalikes
This plant can be confused with the following toxic species. Always verify identification carefully before consuming any wild plant.
Red Baneberry: Short herbaceous plant (no thorns), berries on thick red stems, each berry has a single seed, compound sharply-toothed leaves.
Golden evergreen raspberry: Thorny woody canes (brambles), aggregate berry made of many drupelets, berries pull easily from receptacle.
Where to Find It
A tropical plant. It grows in oak and pine forests between 1,000-2,400 m above sea level. They occur only in Bontoc and Benguet, Mountain Province in the Philippines growing on open slopes at 1300 to 1600 m altitude. In Nepal they grow from 1600-2300 m altitude and in Northeastern India between 2,000-2,800 m above sea level. It occurs in the Western Ghats in India.
Africa, Asia, Australia, Bhutan, China, East Africa, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Jamaica, Laos, Malawi, Myanmar, Nepal, North America, Northeastern India, NW India, Pacific, Pakistan, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Sikkim, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tibet, USA, Vietnam, West Indies,
How to Identify
A scrambling shrub. It grows to about 5 m high. The stems and leaf stalks are densely covered with long stiff hairs and armed with rather large spines. The leaves are compound with three leaflets somewhat rounded or elliptical and flattened at the tip. The lower surface is velvety. They are 1.5-9 cm long by 1-7 cm across. The end leaflet is the largest. The flowers are white and borne in clusters. These can be in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches. The berries are pale yellow, fleshy and fairly good flavour.
Nutrition
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit | 78 | — | — | — | — | 4.1 | — | — |
How to Grow
Easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil in sun or semi-shade. This species is not very hardy in Britain, but it tolerates some frost and should succeed outdoors in the south and west of the country. Cultivated for its edible fruit in southern U.S.A. The fruit is sold in local markets in the Himalayas. This species has become established and naturalized in some areas of the Andes in S. America, where it is looking as though it could become a serious weed problem. This species is a raspberry with biennial stems, it produces a number of new stems each year from the perennial rootstock, these stems fruit in their second year and then die. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus.
Propagation: Seed requires stratification and is best sown in early autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed needs one month stratification at about 3°c and should be sown as early as possible in the year. Prick out seedlings when large enough to handle and grow on in a cold frame, then plant out into permanent positions in late spring of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood can be taken in July/August in a frame. Tip layering in July, planting out in autumn. Division can be done in early spring or just before leaf-fall in autumn.
Medicinal Uses
The plant is astringent and febrifuge. A decoction of the root, combined with Girardinia diversifolia root and the bark of Lagerstroemia parviflora, is used to treat fevers. Root juice is used for fevers, gastric troubles, diarrhoea and dysentery, and a paste of the roots is applied externally to wounds. Both roots and young shoots are considered a good remedy for colic. Leaf buds, combined with Centella asiatica and Cynodon dactylon, are pounded to a juice and used for peptic ulcers. The juice of the fruit treats fever, colic, coughs and sore throat. The inner bark is used in Tibetan medicine, where it is said to have a sweet and sour flavour and a heating potency; it acts as a renal tonic and antidiuretic and is used for weakening of the senses, vaginal or seminal discharge, polyuria and bedwetting.
Other Uses
A purple to dull blue dye is obtained from the fruit. The plant is also grown for soil conservation and to help prevent erosion.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Rubus ellipticus, commonly known as ainselu, golden evergreen raspberry, golden Himalayan raspberry, or yellow Himalayan raspberry, is an Asian species of thorny fruiting shrub in the rose family. Its native range stretches from the Indian subcontinent (Nepal, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan) to southern China and Indochina and the Philippines.
Production
In southern India plants flower and fruit November to March.
Other Information
Fruit are sold in markets. They are eaten especially by children. The fruit are popular.
Notes
There are about 250 Rubus species. It can be invasive.
Names & Synonyms
Aakain, Aakhre, Aingkushi, Ainselu, Aiselu, Aisyalu, Akhe, Akhi, Akhre, Anchhoi, Anchhu, Anselu, Arbei kuning himalaya, Aselu, Baganna, Baganra, Batnak, Borjetulipoka, Bunut, Butnak, Cheemullu, Chhilum, Cho-sho, Chyaga, Esar, Ga-bra, Ghees, Gouriphal, Heijampet manbi, Heinra, Hinsalu, Hinsar, Hinure, Hisalu, Hisara, Hishalu, Hmu-tau, Jilyung, Jogiya hisalu, Jotelupoka, Jotelupoka, Kala, Karer, Kimrupsiang, Kinsar, Kisen pot, Kong-mrep, Leole, Lingsan, Machdim, Mach koli, Morok jemben, Mullu pazham, Ngushi, Nintcho, Nyaningma, Pahelo ainselu, Pakkom tayin, Palaha, Polang, Pulwarhi, Rato aiselu, Romvu, Shaga, Shiinghoshi, Soh-pero, Somoso shii, Subwe, Sumwe, Ta hinch, Theimi, Thulo asayloo, Thulo aselu, Titau, Tolu, Tser-gong, Tudum, Tuo yuan xuan gou zi, Xi bei qiong gei, Yellow raspberry, Zi ga
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