.
Spreading prostrate undershrub with slender braches, long hairs on young branches; leaves subsessile, 4-10 mm long, elliptic to ovate, margin ciliate; flowers solitary, white to pink; calyx lobes ovate, 2-3 mm long; corolla campanulate, up to 8 mm long; fruit capsule, bright blue due to surrounding fleshy calyx, up to 10 mm in diam.
.

/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Gaultheria%20trichophylla.JPG
/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/For%20id%20VOF%20-2-.JPG

VOF Week: Herb for id from VOF entry..:
This spreading herb was caught from near entry gate of VOF
(inside)…looks cute with small blue fruits…hope to get identification….


… this plant is Gaultheria trichophylla family Ericaceae


Yes Gaultheria trichophylla


Some of my group members were told by our guide that it is known as iodex fruit that it serves the same purpose as iodex does ! – am not sure of the claim.


They were not wrong … http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wintergreen



/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Gaultheria%20trichophylla%20-4-.JPG
/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Gaultheria%20trichophylla%20-5-.JPG
/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Gaultheria%20trichophylla%20-7-.JPG
/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Gaultheria%20trichophylla%20-3-.JPG
/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Gaultheria%20trichophylla%20-2--2.JPG
/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Gaultheria%20trichophylla%20-1-.JPG

VoF Week: Gaultheria trichophylla from Valley:
Gaultheria trichophylla from Valley



/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_2982.jpg
/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_2981-2.jpg

VOF Week: Gaultheria trichophylla at VoF:
Gaultheria trichophylla (Family: Ericaceae) at VoF.


Yes … Very good photographs.


Yes the wonderful Iodex plant



/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Gaulth.JPG

Gaultheria trichophylla, and alpine shrub:
Gaultheria trichophylla is a small prostrate shrub of Rhododendron family (Ericaceae) with flowers as small as 5mm only. Blue coloured fleshy fruits with mild aroma of oil of wintergreen are abundantly produced later and are edible.
A common plant on steep slopes of alpine zones in the Himalaya.


Collected many specimens in both flower and fruit in early seventees, but yet to catch on my camera. Hope to do it soon.


Here is mine from Rohtang Pass.


Last year during VoF Trek we could see only Fruits


Gaultheria trichophylla Royle, Ill. Bot. Himal. Mount. 260. t. 63. f. 3. 1835
Spreading prostrate undershrub with slender braches, long hairs on young branches; leaves subsessile, 4-10 mm long, elliptic to ovate, margin ciliate; flowers solitary, white to pink; calyx lobes ovate, 2-3 mm long; corolla campanulate, up to 8 mm long; fruit capsule, bright blue due to surrounding fleshy calyx, up to 10 mm in diam.
Photographed from below Tungnath in Uttarakhand. 

Yes Sir. A tinny shrub of alpines blooming early in season.


Again a lovely upload, hope I will soon find this flowering…


… correctly identified—Gaultheria trichophylla Royle (light pinkish corolla)



/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/G.trichophylla_DSR.JPG
Gaultheria trichophylla Royle is small prostrate creeping shrub in alpine zones of Uttarakhand.
Mature fruits are bluish, fleshy and edible.

It is a nice photo of Gaultheria trichophylla Royle!



/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Gaultheria%20trichophylla-7.JPG
/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Gaultheria%20trichophylla%20-2-.JPG
Though I have a very limited collection of this Group, would like to share..
This one was shot from near entry point of Valley of Flowers National Park…
was identified as Gaultheria trichophylla.. hope this is rightly identified.. no flowers were found..

Yes; G. trichophylla is a common prostrate shrub (though almost creeping over surface) in alpine zones in Uttarakhand.
Fruits are edible but have a typical smell of ‘oil of wintergreen’.

You are correct: Gaultheria trichophylla Royle–Ericaceae
nice fruits you have taken!


Yes blue fruits, because of fleshy calyx surrounding the capsule is distinctive.



/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Gaultheria%20trichophylla-fruits.JPG
/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Gaultheria%20trichophylla-flowers.JPG
Gaultheria trichophylla is a low shrub spreading along ground. We call it the ‘Iodex’ plant as the ripe blue fruits taste like iodex.
The above photographs were clicked from different locations in the Great Himalayan National Park in Kullu district (3600 -3700 m asl).

You identified correctly as Gaultheria trichophylla Royle, but I dare to tell you that photographs are ever better!


These blue fruits are really beautiful, and they taste good, provided one can ignore the typical iodex smell in them. I use to eat them in field visits.



/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/DSC_0032-4-2.JPG
/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/DSC_0033-9-4.JPG
Gaultheria trichophylla Royle. : 2 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (2).
Date: 24 JULY, 2014
Location: From Kuri village on the way to Kalinchok, Dolakha District, East Nepal
Altitude : 11000 ft.

This carpet forming shrub is widespread in Himalayan alpines.
I have tasted these fruits with also bear a smell of oil of wintergreen, otherwise quite tasty.

Nepali Names : कालीगेडी Kaaligedee / भुइँ  काफल  Bhuin Kaafal 


Yes, Gaultheria trichophylla Royle




/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/_MG_3075_04Sep2016.jpg
/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/_MG_3056_04Sep2016.jpg
/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/_MG_3054_04Sep2016.jpg

Gaultheria trichophylla ABSEP2016/144 posts by 4 authors. 3 images.
I saw these bright baby-blue berries at 3300m and above mostly hidden in the foliage and couldn’t manage good photos. I think this is G. trichophylla but I may be wrong. Please advise
Gaultheria trichophyllaHimalayan Snowberry
Ilaqa and abobe, HP 3300m and above 03-04 September 2016 


Yes G.trichophylla (Ericaceae). These blue fruits are edible but leave a flavour of oil of wintergreen.


Yes G. trichophylla the aroma reminds me of Iodex balm so I call it as Iodex plant


.

Rohtang Pass, Himachal Pradesh– July’10?;    Gaultheria trichophylla Royle – efloraofindia | Google Groups

.


Gaultheria tricophylla??: 3 images- 1 very high res.
Location: Arunachal Pradesh
Scientific Name: Gaultheria tricophylla??


Yes !


Yes, appears close to images at Gaultheria trichophylla Royle

 

 


.

References:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *