Hari Krishna Saiju
Department of Plant Resources, Thapathali, Kathmandu
Corresponding author’s email: hk.saiju@gmail.com

Abstract

Nepal is home land for many types of wild edible fruits. The fruits are rich source of minerals, vitamins, protein, carbohydrate, fat and other important elements. The utilization of these plant species would also offer additional income to the local community. Some of the wild popular fruit plant species have been domesticated for commercial purpose. The conservation and utilization of genetic resources of these plants may be necessary for the genetic improvement of cultivated fruits. The promising wild edible fruits have been prioritized on the basis of their popularity in local community. The promising top ten underutilized wild edible fruits are: Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa (English: Bael Fruit: Nepali: Bael), Berberis asiatica Roxb. ex DC. (English: Barberry; Nepali: Chutro), Choerospondis axillaris (Roxb.) B. L. Burtt & A.W. Hill. (English: Nepal Hog Plum; Nepali: Lapsi), Diploknema butyracea (Roxb.) H. J. Lam (English: Nepali Butter Tree; Nepali: Cheuri), Elaeocarpus sphaericus (Gaertn.) K. Schum. (English: The Blueberry beads; Nepali: Rudrakshya), Hippophae salicifolia D. Don (English: Seabuckthorn; Nepali: Daale chuk / Bhuin chuk), Myrica esculenta Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don (English: Box myrtle, Bay-berry; Nepali: Kafal), Phyllanthus emblica L. (English: Emblic Myrobolan; Nepali: Amala), Rubus ellipticus Smith (English: Himalayan Yellow Raspberry; Nepali: Aselu)), Zanthoxylum armatum DC. (English: Nepal Pepper; Nepali: Timur).