Common Name: Himalayan Snowberry
Scientific Name: Gaultheria trichophylla
Family: Ericaceae
Nepali Name: Kaligedi ( कालीगेडी )
Size: 3–6 inches (tall)
Location: Nagthali, Rasuwa, Nepal
Himalayan Snowberry is commonly found in subalpine and alpine habitats between 2,700 and 4,500 meters above sea level. A small creeping shrub of the heath family (Ericaceae) that grows close to the ground, forming low mats across alpine slopes and rocky grasslands. The plant has thin woody stems and tiny oval leaves, usually 3–7 mm long, with fine serrated edges and small bristle-like hairs. The leaves are dark green and densely arranged along the stems.
It produces small bell-shaped flowers that are pale pink to whitish. These are followed by distinctive round berries that ripen into a bright sky-blue color, making the plant easy to spot among alpine vegetation.
Please feel free to comment below if the above species has been misidentified.
Subscribe to Prakritinepal.com for blog updates. Stay informed!
Leave a Reply