Seabuckthorn (Hippophae salicifolia)

Hippophae salicifolia (Seabuckthorn) : Photograph By: Rabin Suwal
Sirkung, Kunjo VDC, Mustang

Shrubs, sometimes rhizomatous, up to 6 m tall. Older stems dark gray, thick, with regularly spaced scars of deciduous leafy branches; leafy stems slender, unbranched, spine tipped. Leaves mostly in whorls of 3; petiole ca. 1 mm; leaf blade abaxially whitish, adaxially grayish, linear-oblong, 1.2-2 × 0.25-0.4 cm, densely scaly, abaxially with scattered subentire, reddish brown scales and reddish brown midrib, margin flat. Male flowers ca. 2 mm; anthers ca. 1.5 mm. Peduncle 1-2 mm. Fruit yellowish green, globose to elliptic, terete, 8-11 × 6-9 mm. Endocarp difficult to separate from seed. Seed somewhat flattened, 4-5.6 × 1.9-2.8 mm. Fr. May. 2n = 24*.

Local Name	:	Tora, Chichi, Tirchhyu, Tara Chuk
English Name	:	Seabuckthorn
Family	:	Elaeagnaceae
Scientific Name		Hippophae salicifolia D. Don
Habit	:	Shrub up to 6 m height
Flowering Period	:	May to June
Fruiting Period	:	June to September
Habitat	:	Dry gravelly or stony places, especially on riverbeds and flood plains; 3600-4700 m
Occurrence in Nepal	:	Dhampu of Lete, Kokhethanti of  Kobang and Sirkung of Kunjo VDC of Mustang District, Reported from Manang too.
Use	:	Fruit used for Making Pickel, Juice by Thakalis