Have you ever seen this wild fruit?
This is Stixis suaveolens, popularly known as Madhu Malati, a rare wild fruit-bearing climbing shrub found in parts of South and Southeast Asia.
This rare, lesser-known plant is an interesting example of the many underutilized species that remain closely associated with forests and traditional knowledge.
The scientific name itself gives us a clue about this climbing plant. The species name suaveolens is derived from Latin words associated with sweetness and fragrance, reflecting the pleasantly scented nature of the plant. The name Madhu Malati also carries a similar meaning. In Sanskrit, madhu refers to sweetness, while malati is associated with a fragrant flowering climber. Thus, both its scientific and common names beautifully describe one of its characteristic features.
During our observation at Chasingre village in West Garo Hills, Meghalaya, we came across this interesting climber and learned about its traditional importance.
It has a distribution extending across India, China, and Vietnam. Like many lesser-known forest plants, it is valued by local communities not only as a wild food but also for its traditional medicinal uses.
The fruits are particularly interesting from a nutritional perspective. They contain natural sugars, dietary fibre, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant compounds. Phenolic compounds and flavonoids reported from the species further add to its potential nutritional and functional value. However, one important limitation we observed in the fruit is the low pulp-to-seed ratio. The seed occupies a large portion of the fruit, while the small amount of edible pulp is moderately sweet. This characteristic may limit its direct commercial appeal at present.
This hints at an important opportunity for future research. Crop improvement, domestication, and selection of superior genotypes could help identify plants with better fruit size, pulp content, taste, and other desirable characteristics. Such research efforts could make this wild fruit more suitable for small-scale cultivation and, eventually, commercial production.
Beyond its edible value, Stixis suaveolens has a long history of traditional medicinal use. In parts of Northeast India, local communities use fruit decoction traditionally for conditions such as cough, malaria, inflammation, and traumatic pain. Likewise, traditional uses have also been documented in Bangladesh, where the fruit is consumed for certain ailments.
A recent study among the Ao tribe of Mokokchung, Nagaland, India, reported that the fruits of Stixis suaveolens are traditionally consumed as food and are also used to treat respiratory ailments. The roots, flowers, and leaves are traditionally used for medicinal purposes, particularly for treating bleeding conditions and rheumatic or arthritis-related problems.
These uses represent valuable traditional knowledge; however, further validation is needed.
For us, Stixis suaveolens is more than a rare wild fruiting climber. It represents the connection between forest biodiversity, traditional knowledge, food, and potential livelihoods. Many such species remain underutilized simply because they have received limited attention in research, propagation, domestication, and value addition.
Documenting these rare, underutilized plants is therefore an important first step. Conservation through domestication, agroforestry integration, community nurseries, and sustainable cultivation could help reduce pressure on wild populations while creating opportunities for local communities.
Madhu Malati reminds us that our forests still hold many plants whose potential is waiting to be understood. By documenting, conserving, and promoting such underutilized species, we can support biodiversity conservation while exploring new possibilities for food, nutrition, and sustainable livelihoods.
Let us continue exploring the amazing world of rare and underutilized plants, one species at a time.
