Practical
Plants

Berchemia lineata

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Taxonomy and growth

Foliage
deciduous
Height
5 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

Fruit. - raw or cooked[5][9]. Only eat the fruit when it is black ripe[2]. The fruit is not very freely produced in Britain[1]. The fruit is about 8mm in diameter[7].

Plant part
Fruit

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

The plant has been used as a febrifuge[8].

Product or use
Febrifuge

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber

Environment

Range
E. Asia - C. and N. China to the Himalayas.
Habitat
On rocks and in forests, 2000 - 2700 metres in the Himalayas[4]. Scrub thickets in dry places at elevations of 2400 - 4000 metres in Nepal[9].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - sow spring or autumn in a cold frame[7]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[7]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, November to January in a frame. Root cuttings in winter[7]. Layering of young stems in winter[7].

Cultivation

Requires a good moist well-drained loam, succeeding in full sun if the soil does not dry out otherwise it is best in light shade[3][7]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[7]. Suitable for growing along fences, against walls with wire supports or for growing through other shrubs[7]. Plants climb by means of twining around supports[6]. Closely related to B. edgeworthii[6].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

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  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

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  4. Gamble. J. S. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 1972-00-00

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  5. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

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  6. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩1↩2

  7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  8. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

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  9. Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6

    ↩1↩2

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