chutro plant and its uses

 CHUTRO (किल्मोडा)

Scientific name : Berberis aristata

Family : Berberidacese

Introduction:

B.aristata is native to Himalayas in India

and in Nepal. It is an errect spinous shrub, often found in small patches on bill slopes. It is one of very important medicinal plant. Almost every part of the plant has some medicinal value. Its roots, stem, bark and fruits are used in many ayurvedic preparations. This shrub is found growing wild in sub-Himalayan tract at altitude ranging from 800-2500 meters.

Uses and importance 

The fruits can be eaten by human and also used for producing wine.

The roots are used in treating ulcers, urethral discharges, ophthalmia, jaundice, fevers, etc.

In Nepal, a very valuable preparation called rasaut is prepared from this plant. For preparing rasaut, the bark of the root and of the lower part of the stem is boiled in water, strained and evaporated till a semi-solid mass (rasaut) is obtained. Rasaut is fairly soluble in water. It is mixed with butter and alum, or with opium and lime-juice and is applied externally to the eyelids to cure ophthalmia and other eye diseases.

Rasaut is used as a purgative for children and as a blood-purifier, a tonic and a febrifuge. It is also given in diarrhoea, jaundice and skin diseases. A watery solution of this preparation is also used for washing piles, Oriental sores and glandular swellings. 

A yellow dye is obtained from the roots & stems. The spiny branches are used to make fencing around fields in Nepal. 

Its barks and roots are used to obtain yellow dye for paintings and other fabrics

Morphology

Chutro is a shrub between 2 & 3 meter tall with dark green leaves, multiple yellow flowers & produces purple fruits. 

The bark is covered with 3- branched throns, which are modified leaves & can be removed by hand in longitudinal strips.

The leaves are arranged in tufts of five to eight.

Fruits & flowering

The flowering season begins in mid-march & lasts throughout month of April.

The flowers from a racemase inflorescence with 11 to 16 flowers per raceme, arranged along a central stem.

The flower is polysepalous with 3 large & 3 small sepals & polypetalous, with 6 petals in total.

The plant produces bunches of succulent, acidic, edible berries that are bright red in color.

The fruits start ripening from the second week of May & continued to do so throughout June. 

The berries are approximately 7 mm long & 4mm in diameter & weigh about 227 mg.

It is sweet berry & colors tongue with blackish purple color. 

The fruits become purple black when ripe. That’s the one late, but there are different varieties that become red, black, blue etc when ripe. 

Cultivation details

It grows well in all types of soil.

Plants are found growing in dense shade in the wild.

They grow well in Cornwall.

In colder areas of the country they are to be cut to the ground in severe winters, through they resprout well from base. 

Plants can be pruned back quite severely, they resprout well from base. 

Propagation

Seed – best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame, when it should germinate in late winter or early spring. Seed from over-ripe fruit will take longer to germinate, whilst stored seed may require cold stratification and should be sown in a cold frame as early in the year as possible. The seedlings are subject to damping off, so should be kept well ventilated. When the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame. If growth is sufficient, it can be possible to plant them out into their permanent positions in the autumn, but generally it is best to leave them in the cold frame for the winter and plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season’s growth, preferably with a heel, October/November in a frame.