Myrica esculenta

Fruits of Kaphal plant at Dailekh, Nepal.

Known locally as kaphal or kafal, (Sohphie in Meghalaya, Maching in Nyshi Language of Arunachal), Myrica esculenta is found in the hilly regions of northern India[1] and Nepal, especially in the regions of Garhwal, Kumaon and Eastern Part of Himayala of Himachal Pradesh mainly Shimla , Mandi Solan & Sirmaur district ,Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, southern Bhutan, and western Nepal, especially at elevations of 900–1,800 m (3,000–6,000 ft).[2]It is also found at elevations below 1,500 m (4,900 ft) in the midhills of Nepal. It is also found in Pakke-Kessang,Lower subansiri,kurung kumey district of Arunachal Pradesh and some parts of Himachal Pradesh and Meghalaya.

Bayberries or Kafal from Kafal tree Myrica esculenta in Lalitpur District, Nepal

Myrica esculenta has a tree of medium height, about 6 to 8 m (20 to 26 ft). Bark is soft and brittle. Leaves are conjoint, 30–60 cm (1–2 ft) feet long that has leaflets in pairs of 6 to 9 and has a width of 19 mm (0.75 in). Flowers are of white color and are found in bunches. Fruit is a globose, succulent drupe, with a hard endocarp; diameter 1.1–1.3 cm (0.43–0.51 in); average mass 670 mg (10.3 gr). Seeds are triangular in shape and are astringent in taste.

According to Ayurveda, it has two varieties based on the color of flower: Shweta (white) and Rakta (red).[2]

The bark is yellow and contains the chemical substances myricetin, myricitrin and glycosides.[2] Leaves of the plant also contain flavone-4'-hydroxy-3',5,5'-trimethoxy-7-O-β-I-D-glucopyranosy)(1→4)-α-L-rhamnopyranoside; flavone-3',4'-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside; β-sitosterol; β-sitosterol-β-D-glucopyranoside and quercetin.[3]