Bhava

November 1st, 2008

Botanical Name:Garcinia cowa

Bhava is a lesser known edible fruit of Mizoram. Locally called Chenkek, it is grown as a subsidiary crop in the orchard of citrus, banana and arecanut. Ripened fruit is unique as it is externally similar to tomato and internally to citrus because of the presence of juice sacs. Mizo people are fond of both unripened and ripened fruits as it is rich in vit C and sour in taste. Plant is a medium sized (3-5 m), evergreen having drooping branches and lanceolated leaves. Flowers are yellowish to pinkish, axillary, clustered, sometimes solitary with long pedicels. Fruits, develop through superior ovary, are globose, depressed at base end and corned with persistent stigma. Ripened fruits are pinkish red in colour and fruits are similar to tomato.

Resources:

http://gbpihed.gov.in/envis/HTML/vol13_1/nrai.htm