Artemisia Indica / Damanaka (Sanskrit) /Dhavanam / Nagadhona (Hindi)

General features: Artemisia indica (AI), also known as Indian wormwood, is a widespread flowering plant in the Asteraceae family of the Artemisia genus. The name originates from the Greek word “Artemis,” meaning “healthy.” In recent days, any species of this genus is well-known for its antimalarial activities. The genus holds about 400 species. Despite its distinctive…

Zanthoxylum / Tejphal / Tumuru / Darmar (Hindi) Tejboti / তেজবতী (Bengali) General features: The English name is Prickly ash. Factually, Zanthoxylum is a genus comprising 250 species, including evergreen and deciduous shrubs and climbers. Most, if not all, of them share closely similar properties in terms of taste and medicinal roles. They belong to…

Wolffia arrhiza / Khudi-pana (Hindi)

General feature: The botanical name is Wolffia arrhiza (WA). This rootless aquatic plant, known as ‘Rootless duckweed’ or simply ‘duckweed’, belongs to the Wolffia genus of the Araceae family.  It is perhaps the smallest vascular plant on earth. The plant, WA, grows almost worldwide due to its naturalization with time; however, it is claimed to…

Watercress / Helencha (হেলেঞ্চা)

General features: The botanical name is Nasturtium officinale. It is an aquatic flowering plant that belongs to the Brassicaceae family, commonly known as the cabbage family, within the Nasturtium genus. It is a fast-growing perennial vegetable plant that grows in Eurasia, North Africa, and parts of tropical regions in Southeast Asian countries like India, China,…

Horseradish / Sahijan (Hindi)

Horseradish / Sahijan (Hindi) General features: The botanical name is Armoracia rusticana, which has been designated as Herb of the Year 2011. It is a perennial plant belonging to the Brassicaceae family, of the Armoracia genus, which also includes mustard, wasabi, cabbage, broccoli, and radish. Horseradish is a root vegetable that grows in West Asia…

Flagellaria indica / Harcharal (Hindi)

General features: In English, Flagellaria indica (FI) is called either False Rattan or Bush Cane. In Hindi, it is named Harcharal. It is a tropical/subtropical climbing plant grown in India, Southeast Asia, Polynesia, Micronesia, East Africa, and Australia. The plant belongs to the Flagellariaceae family of the Flagellaria genus. It is a strong climber that…

Adonis aestivalis / Neelambari (Hindi)

General features: In English, the plant Adonis aestivalis (AA) is known as the Summer Pheasant’s eye since it grows at the beginning of summer. The word “Adonis’ originates from Greek mythology. It is said that the Greek Goddess turned her lover, Adonis, into a plant that grows bright red flowers following his blood-spattered death. Whereas…

Mimosa pudika / Laajavanti (Hindi)/ Lajjavati / লজ্জাবতী (Bengali)

General features: The botanical name of the plant is Mimosa pudica (MP). It is a unique, sensitive plant, native to Central and South America. But it also grows in India and the Caribbean. The plant is famously known for its peculiar ability to fold if touched. This specific behavior has attracted considerable attention from the…

Achyranthes aspera / Apamarga (Sanskrit)/ Chirchira (Hindi) / Apang (Bengali)

General features: The botanical name is Achyranthes aspera (AA), an ancient Ayurvedic medicinal plant belonging to the Amaranthaceae family of the Achyranthes genus. The English name is either Chaff-flower or Devil’s horsewhip. The plant grows in tropical climates, including India, Australia, Africa, Southeast Asian nations, and the South Pacific Islands. Due to its widespread use…

Trichodesma Indicum / Adhapushpi  (Sanskrit) / Andhaphuli or Chhotta Kalpa (Hindi)

General features: The botanical name is Trichodesma indicum (TI), an Ayurvedic plant (Adhapushpi in Sanskrit), which belongs to the Boraginaceae family of the Trichodesma genus. In English, it is called Indian Borage or Blue Hound’s tongue. It is a widely famed Ayurvedic/medicinal plant in the Indian subcontinent and in many Southeast Asian nations, often used…