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 Wild edible fruits used by the tribals of Dimapur district of Nagaland, India Renchumi Mozhui, Rongsensashi, Limasenla and Sapu Changkija 1 Department of Botany, Nagaland University, Hqs: Lumami, Mokokchung 798 601, Nagaland, India 1 Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding, SASRD, Nagaland University, Campus: Medziphema; Medziphema 796106, Nagaland, India E-mail: renchumimozhui@yahoo.in [Received revised & accepted: 01.04.2011] Abstract Dimapur district of Nagaland (Northeast India) with its diverse topographic and climatic conditions harbours rich floristic wealth, of which many are fruit plants. The paper deals with 98 species of wild edible 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- western part of Nagaland in Northeast India. The district with an area of 927 sq km lies between 25 o 402-25 o 562 N Latitude and 93 o 332-94 o 022 E Longitude. Dimapur district is the home for all different tribes of Nagaland. The district harbours rich floristic diversity as a result of its varied altitudinal zone and climatic conditions. The altitude ranges from 250 m 1150 m above mean sea level. The climate is hot and humid during summer and cool and pleasant during winter. Tropical semi-evergreen and tropical moist deciduous type of forests are found in the district. Some dominant tree species in the area include Terminalia myriocarpa Heurck & Mueller, Artocarpus chaplasha Roxburgh, Dillenia indica Linnaeus, Sapium baccatum Roxburgh, Albizzia chinensis (Osbeck) Merrill, Sterculia villosa Roxburgh, Gmelina arborea Linnaeus etc. The shrubby and herbaceous species constitute Clerodendrum viscosum Ventanat, Mussaenda roxburghii Hooker f., Osbeckia rostrata 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 of wild relatives of crop plants. Apart from these a wide range of medicinal plants such as Rauvolfia serpentina Bentham ex Kurz, Curcuma sp., Aquillaria agallocha Roxburgh, Paederia foetida Bentham, Litsea citrata Blume etc. occur in these forests. The ethnic tribal people still mostly depends on different types of forest produces for their food, fruits, medicine and various other needs. As the district is occupied by all the different tribes of Nagaland, the usage of the wild edible fruits is varied; each has their own way of savoring the fruits either raw or pickled or roasted or boiled or made into jams, juice and squash. Some of these fruits are sold in local markets 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, no documentation 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 still lies 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 District. 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 were processed using the routine herbarium techniques as recommended by Jain & Rao (1977). Identification 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 Department of Botany, Nagaland University. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION In the present study altogether 96 angiospermous and 2 gymnospermous species of wild fruits have been documented those are belonging to 58 genera and 38 families. The recorded wild edible fruits have been presented in Table-1 with their Botanical names arranged alphabetically, followed by family, local name, exsiccatae and mode of use. Table 1. Wild edible fruits of Dimapur district Renchumi Mozhui et al 57 Name [Family] Exsiccatae Local name Mode of use Adenia trilobata (Roxburgh) Engler Renchumi 858 Lemshinokjang Seeds eaten [Passifloraceae] fresh Amomum subulatum Roxburgh [Zingiberaceae] Renchumi 867 Melangthi Seeds as spice/ eaten fresh Artocarpus chaplasha Roxburgh [Moraceae] Renchumi 1493 Jaremjang Pulp eaten fresh, seeds after boiling Artocarpus gomezianus Wallich [Moraceae] Renchumi 1284 Sungkup Sali - do - Artocarpus lakoocha Roxburgh [Moraceae] Renchumi 1456 Etothi - do - Baccaurea ramiflora Loureiro [Euphorbiaceae] Renchumi 1264 Otumethi Arils eaten fresh Beilschemiedia roxburghii Nees [Lauraceae] Renchumi 1232 Arnjang Ripe fruits are eaten Bischofia javanica Blume [Bischofiaceae] Renchumi 872 Jalijang Berries eaten Broussonetia papyrifera Ventenat [Moraceae] Renchumi 801 Mamajang 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 or dried Canarium strictum Roxburgh [Burseraceae] Renchumi 877 Chakronthi Fruits are eaten raw or dried Caryota urens Linnaeus [Arecaceae] Renchumi 1498 Maype (Konyak) Seeds are eaten Castanopsis hystrix DC. [Fagaceae] Renchumi 850 Thyosolothi Roasted nuts are eaten Castanopsis indica A. DC. [Fagaceae] Renchumi 887 Kozujang - 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 fresh Curculigo capitulata (Loureiro) O. Kuntze Renchumi 890 Tsuyantong - do - [Hypoxidaceae] 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 Ripe fruits eaten raw/ pickled

58 Wild edible fruits of Dimapur, Nagaland Name [Family] Exsiccatae Local name Mode of use Dillenia scabrella (D. Don) Roxburgh Renchumi 1477 Shiti kozu Ripe fruits eaten raw/ [Dilleniaceae] tilaba pickled Diospyros kaki Thunberg [Ebenaceae] Renchumi 1279 Komi Fruits eaten fresh Diospyros variegata Kurz [Ebenaceae] Renchumi 1462 Komi Fruits eaten fresh Docynia indica (Wallich) Decaisne [Rosaceae] Renchumi 809 Malanthi Fruits are eaten fresh/ preserved Elaeagnus conferta Roxburgh [Elaeagnaceae] Renchumi 1235 Kotarangjang Fruits are eaten fresh/ pickled Elaeagnus pyriformis Hooker f. [Elaeagnaceae] Renchumi 1201 Kotarangjang - do - Elaeocarpus floribundus Blume [Elaeocarpaceae] Renchumi 1495 Sungamerem - do - Elaeocarpus lanceaefolius Roxburgh Renchumi 1651 Sungameren - do - [Elaeocarpaceae] Elaeocarpus prunifolius Wallich Renchumi 1671 Sungameren - do - [Elaeocarpaceae] Elaeocarpus sphearicus (Gaertner) Renchumi 1271 Sunganerem - 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 Ripe fruits are eaten [Musaceae] Ficus auriculata Loureiro [Moraceae] Renchumi 1254 Mamojang - do - Ficus benghalensis Linnaeus [Moraceae] Renchumi 1433 Ngisa - do - Ficus fulva Reinwardt [Moraceae] Renchumi 1674 Koro - do - Ficus heterophylla Linnaeus f. [Moraceae] Renchumi 1408 Koro - do - Ficus hirta Vahl [Moraceae] Renchumi 888 Pangsem - do - Ficus hispida Linnaeus f. [Moraceae] Renchumi 855 Nithutong - do - Ficus racemosa Linnaeus [Moraceae] Renchumi 1277 Thathesu (Sumi) - do - Ficus semicordata Buchanon-Hamilton Renchumi 1241 Koronem - do - ex Smith [Moraceae] Ficus subincisa Buchanon-Hamilton ex Renchumi 1653 Koro - do - J.E. Smith [Moraceae] Firmiana colorata (Roxburgh) R. Brown Renchumi 1676 Anemtong Roasted seeds are [Sterculiaceae] eaten Fragaria indica Anderson [Rosaceae] Renchumi 899 Jalinkhumthera Berries eaten fresh Fragaria nilgerrensis Schlechtendal ex Renchumi 1434 Jalinkhumthera - do - J. Gay [Rosaceae] Garcinia atroviridis Griffith [Clusiaceae] Renchumi 1436 Sentola tilaba Pulp eaten fresh, rinds as spice Garcinia cowa Roxburgh [Clusiaceae] Renchumi 1453 Aghatsa (Sumi) - do - Garcinia indica Choisy [Clusiaceae] Renchumi 1665 Sentola tilaba - do - 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] Gnetum gnemon Linnaeus [Gnetaceae] Renchumi 837 Mhalivo Roasted seeds are eaten

Gnetum montanum Markgraf [Gnetaceae] Renchumi 851 Milemjang - do - Hodgsonia macrocarpa (Blume) Cogniaux Renchumi 1432 Tofu - do - [Cucurbitaceae] Hovenia dulcis Thunberg [Rhamnaceae] Renchumi 1668 Jiji Fruits eaten fresh Juglans regia Linnaeus [Juglandaceae] Renchumi 865 Nothi Roasted seeds are eaten Lantana camara Linnaeus [Verbenaceae] Renchumi 1687 Mangashetsu Fruits eaten fresh Mangifera andamanica King [Anacardiaceae] Renchumi 806 Ratsupyongthi Fleshy pulp eaten fresh or pickled Mangifera sylvatica Roxburgh [Anacardiaceae] Renchumi 1414 Arem titi - do - Melastoma normale D. Don [Melastomataceae] Renchumi 1234 Renchumi Mozhui et al 59 Name [Family] Exsiccatae Local name Mode of use Tughaloji Shedu Seeds are eaten fresh (Sumi) Morus indica Thunberg [Moraceae] Renchumi 876 Momontsungthi Ripe fruits are eaten fresh Morus macroura Miquel [Moraceae] Renchumi 1253 Momontsungthi - do - Murraya koenigii (Linnaeus) Sprengel Renchumi 821 Phazuvothi Fruits as spice [Rutaceae] Musa acuminata Colla [Musaceae] Renchumi 1669 Arem mongu Fruits are eaten, spathe as vegetable Mussaenda roxburghii Hooker f. [Rubiaceae] Renchumi 885 Worosuthan Ripe fruits are eaten raw Myrica esculenta Buchanon-Hamilton ex Renchumi 1693 Metiyong Fruits eaten fresh, D. Don [Myricaceae] pickled or made into juice Neolamarckia cadamba (Roxburgh) Bosser Renchumi 893 Kisalo Ripe fruits are eaten [Rubiaceae] raw Nephelium lappacium Linnaeus [Sapindaceae] Renchumi 1655 Arem litchi Aril is eaten fresh Nephelium longana Cambessedes [Sapindaceae] Renchumi 1688 Arem litchi - 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 Parthenocissus semicordata (Roxburgh) Renchumi 1443 Arem tsukme- Ripe fruits eaten Planchon [Vitaceae] natsu fresh Passiflora adenophylla Masters [Passifloraceae] Renchumi 1465 Arem ents - do - -ulashi Passiflora foetida Linnaeus [Passifloraceae] Renchumi 807 Nhabel (Angami) - do - Prunus nepaulensis (Seringe) Steudel [Rosaceae] Renchumi 1438 Mesu Fruits eaten fresh or made into juice Pyrus pashia D. Don [Rosaceae] Renchumi 1691 Arem naspatifruits eaten fresh or preserved Randia densiflora Bentham [Rubiaceae] Renchumi 1496 Tepakjang Fruits eaten raw Randia dumetorum (Retzius) Lamarck [Rubiaceae] Renchumi 1439 Tepakjang - do -

60 Wild edible fruits of Dimapur, Nagaland 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 Rubus rugosus Smith [Rosaceae] Renchumi 1286 Morok jemben - do - Saurauia roxburghii Wallich [Sauraujaceae] Renchumi 1449 Ajichila Fruits are eaten Saurauia armata Kurz [Sauraujaceae] Renchumi 1222 Ajichila - 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 Fruits eaten fresh or dried Sterculia coccinea Roxburgh [Sterculiaceae] Renchumi 1437 Sungkorong Roasted seeds are eaten Sterculia versicolor Wallich [Sterculiaceae] Renchumi 1477 Nemja - do - Sterculia villosa Roxburgh [Sterculiaceae] Renchumi 866 Nemja - do - Stixis suaveolens (Roxburgh) Baillon Renchumi 1664 Hamvuthi Pulp eaten fresh, [Capparaceae] seeds as spice Syzygium cumini (Linnaeus) Skeels [Myrtaceae] Renchumi 1292 Shilongthi Ripe fruits are eaten fresh Terminalia chebula Retzius [Combretaceae] Renchumi 881 Yankhothi Fruits are eaten fresh Tetrastigma lanceolarium Planchon [Vitaceae] Renchumi 1659 or dried Poto lashi Ripe fruits are eaten fresh Trichosanthes wallichiana (Seringe) Wight Renchumi 891 Lemshinokjang Ripe fruits are eaten [Cucurbitaceae] raw Willughbeia edulis Roxburgh [Apocynaceae] Renchumi 1695 Zhuthi Sweetish pulp are eaten fresh Zalacca secunda Griffith [Arecaceae] Renchumi 1689 Kothi Young seeds are eaten raw Zizyphus oenoplia (Linnaeus) Miller Renchumi 864 Arem pokuri Ripe fruits are eaten [Rhamnaceae] fresh Zizyphus rugosa Lamarck [Rhamnaceae] Renchumi 1221 Ora Bukuri - do - 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,

PLATE - I Renchumi Mozhui et al 61 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 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. Mangifera andamanica, 10. Garcinia tinctoria, 11. Garcinia atroviridis, 12. Garcinia pedunculata 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.

62 Wild edible fruits of Dimapur, Nagaland PLATE - II 13 14 15 16 17 18 agaland 19 20 21 22 23 24 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. Murraya koenigii, 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 plants such as Baccaurea ramiflora, Dellinia indica, Gnetum gnemon, Canarium bengalense,

Renchumi Mozhui et al 63 PLATE - III 1 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. Canarium strictum etc. can be grown for mass production so as to improve the economic condition of 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, jhum cultivation, 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 wild edible fruits before they are completely destroyed and becomes totally extinct from the area.

64 Wild edible fruits of Dimapur, Nagaland Acknowledgements Authors would like to thank the Tribals inhabiting Dimapur district for sharing their valuable knowledge 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. LITERATURE CITED Bora, P.J & Kumar, Y. 2003. Floristic diversity of Assam. Daya Publishing House, Delhi. Changkija, S.; Rongsensashi & Mozhui, R. 2010. Lesser known Indigenous Spices Diversity of Nagaland. National Symposium on Spices and Aromatic Crops (SYMSAC-V), ed. Akali Sema, Central Institute of Horticulture, Medziphema, Nagaland, pp 80 86. Hooker, J.D. 1872 1897. Flora of British India. Vol 1-7, L. Reeve & Co. Ltd, Kent, England. Jain, S.K. & Rao, R.R. 1977. A Handbook of field and Herbarium methods. Today and Tomorrows publishers, New Delhi. Jamir, N.S. & Rao, R.R. 1990. Ethnobotany of Ao and Angami Nagas of Nagaland. J. Econ. Tax. Bot. 14(3): 593 604. Jamir, N.S. 1996. Study of the wild edible in Nagaland State, India. Manag. Minor For. Pro. Sustainability 297 303. Kanjilal, U.N.; Kanjilal, P.C.; Das, A.; De, R.N. & Purkayastha, C. 1934 1940. Flora of Assam. Vols. I V, Avon Book Co Ajmeri Gate, Delhi-6. Takatemjen; Jamir, N.S. & Deb, M. 2009. Wild edible fruits of Wokha district of Nagaland, India. Pleione 3(1):59-62.