Sariva | Hmidesmus indicus | Anantmool | Indian sarsaparila

Anantmool (Sariva)

classification of Hemidesmus indicus

Kingdom: Plantae

Order: Gentianales

Family: Apocynaceae

Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae

Genus: Hemidesmus

Species: H. indicus

Common name: Indian sarsaparila

Nature of Emidesmus indicus
It is a perennial prostrate climber with different shapes of leaves.
rootstocks are fragrant and penetrate deep in the soil.

leaves very greatly in size and shape and opposite in arrangement.
young leaves have whitish midrib.
the flowers are small yellow and purple in colour, borne in umbellate cymes.

fruits with with two follicles and split open when dry.


Special characteristics of Emidesmus indicus

Roots are scented.

Medicianl uses of Emidesmus indicus

Roots are used as diuretic.
It is a well-known plant as blood purifier.
it is also used for improving appetite. young leaves if chewed are refreshing. medicinal preparations like "Raktadoshantak", "Safee" and" Surakta" contain the extract of this plant.
it is also used in ayurvadic and yunani medicine system.

position of Emidesmus indicus: Fairly common in the wild.

Sarpagandha | Rauvolfia serpentina | Sarpakshi

Sarpagandha (Sarpakshi)

classificaion of Rauvolfia serpentina

Kingdom: Plantae

Order: Gentianales

Family: Apocynaceae

Subfamily: Rauvolfioideae

Tribe: Vinceae

Genus: Rauvolfia

Common name: Serpentina Roots

Nature of Rauvolfia serpentina

It is a perennial herb less than a meter in height.
the leaves are long, lanceolate and bright green in colour. they are borne on stem in whorl of three. the flowers are pink or white and are in clusters.
the fruits are small, globose; initially greenish purplbin colour but eventually turning blackish when ripe.


Special characteristics of Rauvolfia serpentina
Its white-pink flowers and berries.

Medicinal usus of Rauvolfia serpentina
Its roots contain several alkaloids. the drug is mostly used as a sedative and for reducing blood pressure.
Used in ayurdice preparations.

position of Rauvolfia serpentina
Due to its heavy demand in medicines, the plant has become extremely rarein the wild.

Rui | madar | Calotropis gigantea | Milkweed

classification of Calotropis gigantea

Kingdom: Plantae

Order: Gentianales

Family: Apocynaceae

Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae

Genus: Calotropis

Species: C. gigantea

Common name: Milkweed, Rui (madar)

Nature of Calotropis gigantea

A common shurb of wasteland and rode side. the leaves are thick, opposite, decussate in arrangement and coated with white powder. flowers are in umble and blue in colour.
Distribution: Throughout india on plains on wastelands.

Special characteristics of Calotropis gigantea :
Its typical leaves and flowers, which are quite unique in structure.

Medicinal uses of Calotropis gigantea :

Dry leaf powder used for treating wounds and boils. leaves found to be effective on elephantiasis.
flowers along with jaggery are useful against cough and improving appetite.
the mixture of latex, turmeric and sesame oil, useful in treating scabies.


Leaves and flowers used for worshiping lord Hanuman. position : Very common.

Sadaphuli | Catharanthus roseus | | Periwinkle

Sadaphuli

classification of Catharanthus roseus

Kingdom: Plantae

Order: Gentianales

Family: Apocynaceae

Genus: Catharanthus

Common name: Periwinkle


Nature of classification of Catharanthus roseusit is a herb up to one-meter height. leaves are shinning green in clusters. flowers are white or pink in colour.Distribution: The plant is a native of madagascar, but found throughout india.

Special characteristics of roseus:
ornamental plant cultivated for its white and pink flowers.Medicinal uses of Catharanthus roseus:
Roots and leaves are used in medicine. the plant contains alkaloids,which are used in the treatment of tumor, leukemia, hypertension and has a sedative property.position: Very common; has least risk in the wild.

Halad | Haridra | domestica valenton

Halad(Haridra)

classificaton of domestica valenton

Kingdom Plantae

Division Magnoliophyta

Class Liliopsida

Order Urticales

Family Moraceae

Genus Curcuma

Species Longa

Common name: Turmeric



Nature of domestica valenton
It is a A small herb with long and scented leaves, growing in moist situations. the rhizome is a modified stem, which constitutes turmeric.
Distribution: Found mostly in peninsular india.

Special characteristics of domestica valenton
Its rhizome and leaves.

Medicianl uses of domestica valenton:
The plant contains alkaloid curcumin, used for treating cough and cold.
it is widely used as an antiseptic for clotting blood. turmeric is also used in cosmetic preparations.



position : A common plant under cultivation at various places in india.

Datura stramonium | Dhotra | Kanak

Dhotra(Kanak)

classification of Datura stramonium :

Kingdom: Plantae

Order: Solanales

Family: Solanaceae

Genus: Datura

Common name: Thorn apple

Family: Solanaceae

Nature of Datura stramonium
it is a herb with lot of branching and large leaves.
flowers are large, white and trumpet shaped.
the fruit is oval in shape, with short prickles all over its surface.
Distribution: Found all over india in plains, especially on wast places.

Special characteristics of Datura stramonium
Its large flowers; and fruits, which split open when ripe.
Medicinal uses of Datura stramonium
drug consists of dried leaves and seeds.the leaves contain alkaloids hyoscyamine and atropine. the plant is useful in treating bronchitis and asthma, and also has antispasmodic properties.
The plant is used in ayurvedic preparations.

position: Common on waste places, as weed.

Bahava | Suvarnika | Cassia fistula

Bahava(Suvarnika)

classification of Cassia fistula

Kingdom: Plantae

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Subclass: Rosidae

Order: Fabales

Family: Fabaceae

Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae

Tribe: Cassieae

Subtribe: Cassiinae

Genus: Cassia

Species: C. fistula Cassia fistula

Common name: Indian laburnum


Nature of Cassia fistulait is a medium sized tree with compound leaves.
leaflets larg and shining. flowers are bright yellow and borne in long hanging bunches.
pod is cylindrical and dark brown when ripe.
Distribution: It is found throughout india up to a certain altitude.
common in moist and evergreen forest.

Special characteristics of Cassia fistula: Beautiful golden yellow flowers in hanging bunch.
medicinal uses of Cassia fistula: Seeds and fruit pulp used as mild laxative. tender leaves juice used in the treatment of scabies.
It's a very good avenue and garden tree.

position: Commonly found in the forest.

Aavla | Amalika | Emblica officinalis

Aavla(Amalika)

classification of Emblica officinalis

Kingdom: Plantae

Division: Flowering plant

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order: Malpighiales

Family: Phyllanthaceae

Tribe: Phyllantheae

Subtribe: Flueggeinae

Genus: Phyllanthus

Species: P. emblica officinalis

Common name: Emblic myrobalan

Family: Euphorbiaceae

Nature of Emblica officinalis

This is a medium-sized deciduous tree, with pimiately compound leaves. it bears a small pale greenish yellow globose shaped fruit, marked with six lobes.

Distribution: Occurs throughout india in plains as well as in coastal districts.

Special characteristics of Emblica officinalis : Its globose fruit, which is larger when cultivated.

Medicinal uses of Emblica officinalis
fruits are s rich source of Vitamin C. it is an effective liver tonic and a mild laxative. it also helps in improving the appetite and digestion. it is one of the main ingredients of "Chavanprash".
The fruit is a great source of Vitamin C and used in ayurvedic preparations.



Status: A commonly occurring plant of deciduous forests.

Punarnava | Boerhaavia diffusa | Common hog-weed

Scientific name: Boerhaavia diffusa

Common name: Common hog-weed, Punarnava(Punarnava).

Family: Nyctaginaceae

nature of Boerhaavia diffusa: a herb sperading on ground and partly erect. nodes swoeen, with ovate leaves on both sides. flowers very small and pink coloured, growing in clusters.



characteristics of Boerhaavia diffusa

Entire plant has pink colourations on stem.

Medicinal uses of Boerhaavia diffusa Leaves and roots have medicinal properties.
the drug contains alkaloid "punarnavin"
.it is diuretic and used in the treatment of drohapsy and jaundice.
An ayurvedic preparation "punarnavasava" obtained from this plan.



status of Boerhaavia diffusa: fairly common.

Asparagus racemosus

classification of Asparagus racemosus

Kingdom: Plantae

Order: Asparagales

Family: Asparagaceae

Genus: Asparagus

Species: A. racemosu
Nature of Asparagus racemosus

It is a shurb.
leaves are small, linear with small stout spnious spur at the base. fruits are globose,3-5mmin diameter and turn bright red when ripe .

characteristics of Asparagus racemosus : This and oters species are used as ornamental plant.

Medicinal uses of Asparagus racemosus : Roots act as diuretic and increas appetite.
the mixture of long pepper, honey and root extract of this plant works as tonic.
It is extensively used in ayurvedic preparation e.g."shatavari kalp".
Cultivated/collected: Collected from wild and also cultivated.

Status of Asparagus racemosus : Fairly common in wild and gardens.