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.

Flame of the forest | Butea monosperma | Palash

classification of Butea monosperma

Kingdom: Plantae

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order: Fabales

Family: Fabaceae

Genus: Butea

Species: B. monosperma

Common name: Palas (Palash), Flame of the forest.



Nature of Palash

It is a medium sized deciduous tree with big, smooth and trifoliate leaves.
Flowers are bright orange-red in colour and are in clusters. fruit is a thin and compressed pod.



characteristics of Palash

Its beautiful orange coloured flowers brings colour to forest and hence the name flame of the forest.

Medicianl uses of Palash: Flowers of this plant are diuretic. gum of the tree is known as "bengal kino" and contains tannin, used in the treatment of diarrhea. seeds are used anthelmintic, in the treatment of worms.
Gum "bengal" and flowers yield yellow dye.
provides excellent habitat for lac insect.
leaves used for making platesand bowls.



Status of Palash: Very common.

Neerbranhi | Somyalata | Bacopa monnieri

clasification of Bacopa monnieri

Kingdom: Plantae

Order: Lamiales

Family: Scrophulariaceae

Genus: Bacopa

Species: B. monnieri

Common name: Thyme leaves gratiola, Neerbranhi (Somyalata).

Nature
It is a herb with succulent stem and leaves, spreading on moist ground.
The flowers are very small, solitary and bluein colour.
this plant is mostly found near water bodies.


characteristics Bacopa monnieri: It is a Moderately succulent plant.
Medicinal uses of Bacopa monnieri

every parts of the plant is used medicinally. it is a tonic for nevers and prescribed in mental diseases. the leaf juice is given to infants in bronchitis.
plant countains an alkaloid "bramhin", which is a cardiac tonic.

position: Common on moist locations.