Natural Product Radiance, Vol. 5(4), 2006, pp. 302-305 Green page: Article

Wild edible fruits of Tripura M Sankaran*, Jai Prakash, N P Singh and A Suklabaidya ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region Tripura Centre, Lembucherra-799 210, Tripura (W), *Correspondent author, E-mail : [email protected], [email protected] Received 1 April 2005; Accepted 6 June 2006 Abstract

Tripura is one of the eight jewels of the North-Eastern States and the state weather is characterized by subtropical, warm and humid condition, which favours the luxuriant growth of various edible fruit crops. In addition to the major fruits grown (Mango, Litchi, Pineapple, Orange, Banana and Jackfruit) in this state, there are many edible fruits exist naturally in forest as well as in cultivable areas. These fruit are playing a vital role in providing nutritional and economic security to the poor masses in rural areas but the commercial importance and market value of these wild fruits is unknown to them. This paper lists the wild edible fruits and their uses for further exploration. Keywords : Fruits, Wild edible fruits, Genetic resources, Tripura. IPC code; Int. cl.7 — A23L 1/00

Introduction

Tripura is located at 22° 56′ to 24° 32′ latitude and 91° 10′ to 92° 21′ longitude. The geographical area of Spondias sp. Tripura is about 10,491sq km of which receives an average rainfall of 2065mm. 60 per cent constitute forest and Averrhoea carambola The monsoon breaks in May-June and remaining 40 per cent is available for farmers contribute about 90 per cent of continues for about 4-5 months. The cultivation. Agriculture is an important total farming community and the average people of Tripura are nature loving and it sector in the state, which contributes 26 size of land holding is 0.97ha which is is evident from naming the place with tree per cent of the State GDP of which the the lowest among the seven other North- name, i.e. Sal bagan (a place where sal major contribution is from horticultural Eastern states. The state weather is is grown), Litchi bagan (a place where crops of Fruits (Pineapple, Litchi and characterized by warm and humid litchi is grown), Tala mura (a place Oranges), Vegetables (Potato TPS), subtropical climate with three distinct where palmyrah is grown), Khejur Plantation Crops (Cashew nut, , seasons, viz. summer, monsoon and winter bagan (a place where wild dates is Rubber and Tea), Spices (Ginger, with four different cropping seasons like grown), Ambasa (Mango and wild and Black pepper), etc. More than 75 per Khariff, Rabi, Summer and Jhum mango found), Jam juri (a place where cent of the population either directly or cultivation in forest during pre-monsoon jamun is grown), Kola bagan (a place indirectly and late monsoon periods. This state has where banana is grown), Padya pukur depends on many rivers out of which the important par (a place where lotus is grown), etc. agriculture. ones are Juri, Deo, Manu, Dalai, Thowai, Keeping all above points in view a survey The small and Haora, Mahari, Burigang and Gomati was conducted in West and South Tripura Averrhoea carambola twig marginal which are mainly seasonal. Tripura to document the genetic resources of wild with fruits

302 Natural Product Radiance Green page: Article edible fruits. Table 1 enumerates 40 wild vivo) and the collection, conservation sylvestris and Tamarindus indica edible fruits reported from Tripura for and utilization of these crops and which are found in West Tripura only and further exploration and commercial standardization of agro-techniques is Mangifera sylvatica is restricted to cultivation. essential for their profitable cultivation North Tripura. Passiflora edulis and The agroclimatic conditions, and maximum yield realization in these Phyllanthus acidus are fertile soils and good amount of rainfall crops. Out of 40 plants mentioned in the limited to favours the existence of large number of Table 1 all are widely found in Tripura West and fruit crops in this region. There is a huge except flabellifer, Feronia South genetic diversity, which can be used for limonia, Manilkara achras, Phoenix Tripura. creating the gene bank (field and in Elaeocarpus floribundus

Dillenia pentagyna twig with fruits Dillenia fruits Ficus glomerata

Table 1 : List of wild edible fruits of Tripura1-4

S.No. Botanical/Family Name Common Flowering (FL) Remarks Name & Fruiting (FT)

1. Aegle marmelos Correa ex Roxb. Bael Jan-Feb (FT) Used for the Rutaceae preparation of Sarbath. 2. Annona reticulata Linn. Annona March-April - Annonaceae (FT) 3. Annona squamosa Linn. Ata March-April - (FT) 4. Antidesma acuminatum Wall. ex Wight Sialbuka Jan-Feb (FL) - Euphorbiaceae May-June (FT) 5. Artocarpus chaplasha Roxb. Chamal Jan-Feb (FL) - Moraceae May-June (FT) 6. Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb. Monkey jack Jan-Feb (FL) - May-June (FT) 7. Averrhoea bilimbi Linn. Bilimbi Year round - Averroheaceae 8. Averrhoea carambola Linn. Kamranga Year round - 9. Borassus flabellifer Linn. - Jan-Feb (FL) Toddy is extracted from May-June (FT) stem and used for preparation of .

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S.No. Botanical/Family Name Common Flowering (FL) Remarks Name & Fruiting (FT)

10. Bridelia retusa Spreng./Euphorbiaceae Kumkumi Dec-Jan (FL) - 11. Carissa carandas Linn./Apocynaceae Karonda Aug-Sept (FT) - 12. Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merrill/Rutaceae Jambura Year round - 13. Dillenia pentagyna Roxb./Dilleniaceae Chalta Aug-Sept (FT) - 14. Elaeocarpus floribundus Blume Jalpui Oct-Nov (FT) - Elaeocarpaceae 15. Emblica officinalis Gaertn. Amlaki, Amla, Feb-March (FL) The fruits possess syn. Phyllanthus emblica Linn. Aonla Nov-Dec (FT) medicinal value and Euphorbiaceae used for the preparation of Chavanprash. 16. Feronia limonia (Linn.) Swingle Kaith, Elephant March-April (FL) Fruits used for the syn. F. elephantum Correa apple Nov-Feb (FT) preparation of jam Rutaceae and possess medicinal value also. 17. Ficus glomerata Roxb. Udumbara, Feb-March (FL) The fruits possess syn. F. racemosa. Linn. Yagyadumur, June-July (FT) medicinal value. Moraceae Gular, Country fig 18. Flacourtia sp. Payala March-April The fruits possess Flacouriaceae medicinal value. 19. Garcinia pedunculata Roxb. Baikal, Amelvet Sept-Oct (FT) The fruits possess Clusiaceae medicinal value. 20. Grewia hirsuta Vahl. Wild Phalsa Dec-Jan (FT) - Tiliaceae 21. Grewia sapida Roxb. Wild Phalsa Dec-Jan (FT) - 22. Mangifera sylvatica Roxb. Aam, Ambi, Mango Jan-Feb (FL) Fruits are used for jam, Anacardiaceae May-June (FT) jelly and pickles. 23. Manilkara achras (Mill.) Fosb. Khirni Feb-March (FL) Fruits are used for jam, Sapotaceae jelly and sarbath. 24. Morus australis Poir. Tut Jan-Feb (FL) Fruits are medicinally syn. M. acidosa Linn. f. May-June (FT) important. Moraceae 25. Passiflora edulis Sims Passion fruit March-April (FL) Used for squash Passifloraceae June-July (FT) preparation. 26. Phoenix sylvestris Roxb. Khajur Jan-Feb (FL) Toddy is extracted Arecaceae May-June (FT) from fruits. 27. Phyllanthus acidus Skeels Harabari, Jan-Feb (FL) Fruits used for pickle Euphorbiaceae Paramlaki May-June (FT) preparation. 28. Physalis minima Linn. Batepari Feb-March (FL) - Solanaceae 29. Psidium guajava Linn. Wild Guava Dec-Jan (FT) - Myrtaceae

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S.No. Botanical/Family Name Common Flowering (FL) Remarks Name & Fruiting (FT)

30. Rubus niveus Thunb. - Sept-Oct (FT) - Rosaceae 31. Spondias pinnata (Linn. f.) Kurz Amra, Hogplum Jan-Feb(FL) Fruits are used for pickle Anacardiaceae May-June (FT) preparation. Fruit needs standardization of package of practices. The is highly suitable for commercial cultivation. 32. Syzygium cerasoides Raizada Bhali Jamun March-April (FL) Fruits are used for juice, Myrtaceae June-July (FT) jam and jelly preparation. 33. Syzygium cuminii (Linn.) Skeels Kala jam March -April (FL) -do- June-July (FT) 34. Syzygium jambos (Linn.) Alston Gulab jamun March-April (FL) -do- June-July (FT) 35. Syzygium samarangense (Blume) Jamrul March-April (FL) -do- Merrill & Perry June-July (FT) 36. Tamarindus indica Linn. Imli, Tentul, March-April (FL) Fruits are used as spice, Caesalpiniaceae Amlaka and checks vomiting. 37. Tetrastigma lanceolarium (Roxb.) - Feb-March (FL) The fruits are used for Planch. / Vitaceae table purpose. 38. Ziziphus funiculosa Buch.-Ham. ex Wall. Wild Kul Dec-Jan (FT) - Rhamnaceae 39. Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. Kul Dec-Jan (FT) The fruits are used for candy making. 40. Ziziphus oenoplia Mill. Siakul Dec-Jan (FT) The fruits are used for table purpose.

Conclusion (i) exploration and collection, (ii) In situ 2. Chopra RN, Nayar SL and Chopra IC, Glossary or ex situ conservation, (iii) studying of Indian Medicinal Plants, CSIR, India, 1956. nutritional and anti-nutritional properties Tripura is blessed with various 3. Pandey BP, of Angiosperms, S. natural resources especially the plant and, (iv) product development and Chand & Company Ltd., Ram Nagar, New genetic resources. In case of fruit crops, marketing. Delhi, 1997, pp. 497. only few crops are commercially cultivated. Though there are many References 4. Dymock W, Warden CJH and Hooper D, Pharmacographia Indica, Vol. 3, reprinted wild fruits in this state, there is no by Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra 1. Dey AC, Indian Medicinal Plants used in proper collection, improvement and Dun, 1976. agro- techniques for these crops. Hence, Ayurvedic preparations, Published by Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun, 1980, there much emphasis should be given to: pp. 31.

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