Common Name: Tibetan Sea Buckthorn
Scientific Name: Hippophae tibetana
Family: Elaeagnaceae
Nepali Name: Dale Chuk (डल्ले चुक)
Size: 10-60 cm (height)
Location: Chukhung, Khumbu, Nepal

Tibetan Sea Buckthorn is a perennial dense thorny shrub that can be found at elevations ranging from 3600-4700 m. The plant displays a clear division between male and female plants, with female plants being the only ones capable of producing berries. For pollination and subsequent berry growth, both male and female plants are required to coexist in the area.

Its leaves grow in groups of three and have an elliptic and leathery appearance. The fruit is initially yellowish-green, with an elliptic to rounded shape, and turns orange once it ripens. Flowering occurs in April, while the seeds mature and ripen from September to October. The berries are packed with essential nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants, making them highly valuable.

Both the berries and leaves of Tibetan Sea Buckthorn have medicinal applications. Moreover, this plant thrives in challenging conditions due to its relatively high drought resistance and its ability to survive with a minimum requirement of 250 mm of moisture annually. It is well-suited for arid, gravelly, and stony environments, and can often be found in riverbeds and flood plains.

Please feel free to comment below if the above species has been misidentified.

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