Phaseolus acutifolius, commonly known as Tepary bean, is an herbaceous, annual plant belonging to Fabaceae / Leguminosae (Pea family). The plant is native to southwestern United States and Mexico and has been grown there by the native peoples since pre-Columbian times. It is more drought-resistant than the common bean and is grown in desert and semi-desert conditions from Arizona through Mexico to Costa Rica. The waters requirements are low and the crop will grow in areas where annual rainfall is less than 400 mm (16 in). Tepary bean, Texas bean, Pawi, Pavi, Tepari, Escomite, Yori mui, Yorimuni and Yori muni…
Author: Sylvia
Nanking cherry scientifically known as Prunus tomentosa is a popular shrub belonging to Rosaceae (Rose family). The plant is native to northern and western China (including Tibet), Korea, Mongolia, and possibly northern India (Jammu and Kashmir, though probably only cultivated there) and naturalized in Japan, Russia, and other northern regions of the continent. It has become a staple back yard garden plant in Russia and much of Eastern Europe. Nanjing cherry, Korean cherry, Manchu cherry, downy cherry, Shanghai cherry, Ando cherry, mountain cherry, Chinese bush cherry, Chinese dwarf cherry, Mongolian cherry, Aengdo, Aengdonamu, Mao Yingtao, Maotao, Maoyingtao, Yeyingtao, Yusura ume,…
Prunus laurocerasus, also known as cherry laurel, common laurel is an evergreen species of cherry (Prunus) belonging to Lamiaceae / Labiatae (Mint family). The plant is native to regions bordering the Black Sea in southwestern Asia (i.e. northern Iran, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and southern Russia) and southeastern Europe, from Albania and Bulgaria east through Turkey to the Caucasus Mountains and northern Iran. This plant is commonly found in urban forests in King County, Washington and can also be found escaping into more remote areas, usually spread by yard waste dumping or by birds eating the plant’s cherry-like fruits (which…
Diplotaxis tenuifolia commonly known as Wild rocket is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family Brassicaceae / Cruciferae known by the common names perennial wall-rocket and Sand mustard. This plant is native to Europe and Western Asia. It can be found throughout much of the temperate world where it has naturalized. Some of the popular common names of the plant include Lincoln weed, Narrow-leaved wall-mustard, Perennial wall-rocket, Sand mustard, Sand rocket, Slim leaf wild rocket, Slim-leaved wall rocket, Wild arugula, Wild rocket, Yellow-flowered perennial wild rocket, white rocket, wild Italian arugula and sylvetta arugula. Wild rocket seeds are…
Indian Plum scientifically known as Oemleria cerasiformis is a deciduous shrub to small tree belonging to Rosaceae (Rose family) and is the sole species in genus Oemleria. The plant is native to Pacific coast and ranges of North America, from British Columbia, Canada to Santa Barbara County, California, U.S.A.; it is among the first plants to leaf out and flowers early in the spring. It is named for Augustus Gottlieb Oemler (1773-1852), a German-American pharmacist and naturalist. Previous scientific names include Nuttallia cerasiformis Torr. & A. Gray ex Hook. & Arn. and Osmaronia cerasiformis. Some of the well-known common names…
Spider plant scientifically known as Chlorophytum comosum is an introduced herbaceous plant belonging to Asparagaceae family. The plant is native to tropical and southern Africa. The Plant has been reported as introduced in Australia and the southern United States (Alabama, Florida, and Georgia). In Alabama it has been collected as an escape in Conecuh County. Some of the popular common names of the plant are Airplane Plant, Hen-And-Chickens, Ribbon plant, Spider-Ivy, Spider plant, Walking Anthericum, bracket plant, St. Bernard’s lily and tufted bracket plant. The Victorians called it ribbon plant, because of its variegated selections. The variegated sort called Vittatum,…
Ampelopsis brevipedunculata, commonly called porcelain vine, is a vigorous, climbing vine belonging to Grape family (Vitaceae). The plant is native to China, Korea, Japan and Russian Far East. Porcelain Berry, Amur peppervine, Blueberry Climber, Porcelain Berry Vine, Creeper, Wild grape and Amur amelopsis are some of the popular common names of the plant. Genus name comes from the Greek words ampelos meaning a vine and opsis meaning likeness. It is closely related to grape vines. Specific epithet means with a short flower stalk. It was originally cultivated as a bedding and landscape plant. In spite of its acknowledged invasiveness, it…
Terebinth scientifically known as Pistacia terebinthus is a deciduous tree species of the genus Pistacia and Sumac family (Anacardiaceae). The plant is native to Canary Islands and the Mediterranean region from the western regions of Morocco and Portugal to Greece and western and southeastern Turkey. At one time terebinths growing on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea (in Syria, Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian territories) were regarded as a separate species, Pistacia palaestina, but these are now considered to be a synonym of P. terebinthus. Some of the popular common names of the plant are Tourist tree, Cyprus turpentine,…
Indonesian Cinnamon scientifically known as Cinnamomum burmannii is one of several plants in the genus Cinnamomum and (Lauraceae) Laurel family whose bark is sold as the spice cinnamon. The plant is native to China and Vietnam and has been introduced throughout Asia, into the Réunion islands and into Central, South and North America. It is normally found in West Sumatra and western Jambi province, with the Kerinci region. Some of the popular common names of the plant are batavia cinnamon, batavia-cassia, cassia, cassia vera, indonesian cinnamon, indonesian-cassia, java-cassia, malayan cinnamon, malaysian cinnamon, padang cassia, padang cinnamon, Jawa cassia, Fagot cassia…
Ocimum gratissimum, also known as clove basil, African basil, and in Hawaii as wild basil, is a species of Ocimum belonging to Lamiaceae family. The plant is native to tropical Africa, Madagascar, India, South East Asia and the Bismarck Archipelago. It is cultivated and naturalized in China, South America, the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, Polynesia, Hawaii, Mexico, Panama, West Indies, Brazil, and Bolivia and on many islands in the Indian and the Pacific region. It is considered invasive on a number of Pacific and Caribbean Islands. African basil, clove basil, shrubby basil, tree basil, wild basil, East Indian basil, Nchanwu…
Chenopodium giganteum scientifically known as Tree Spinach is a very large annual leafy vegetable belonging to Amaranthaceae family. The plant is native to mountainous regions of India; it is easily cultivated in the UK and other areas. It is also found in the Himalayas, from Nepal to NE India, altitudes of 1800-2200 m. Chenopodium giganteum belongs to the same genus as quinoa or Chenopodium album. Many species of this genus have a long history of domestications as grain, vegetable or forage crops. Thus, genetic relationships and place of origin are hard to determine. Chenopodium giganteum has two main subspecies one…
Edgeworthia chrysantha commonly known as Paperbush is a species of the daphne family (Thymelaeaceae). The plant is native to Chinese provinces of Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Yunnan, and Zhejiang and was probably introduced to Korea and Japan where it has been cultivated since the late 16th century. Giant leaf paper plant, Chinese paper bush, oriental paper bush, yellow Daphne, Indian paper tree, mitsumata or simply paper bush are some of the popular common names of the plant. The genus was named in honor of Michael Pakenham Edgeworth (1812–1881), an Irish-born Victorian era amateur botanist, who worked for the…
Mastic gum is a resin which is obtained from the mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus). It is an evergreen shrub or tree of the Anacardiaceae family that is ubiquitous in Mediterranean areas under 1,100 m above sea level. The plant is native throughout the Mediterranean region, from Morocco and the Iberian Peninsula in the west through southern France and Turkey to Iraq and Iran in the east. It is also native to the Canary Islands. Some of the popular common names of the plant are Chios mastic tree, Lentisc, Mastic, Mastic tree, Mediterranean mastic tree, lentiscus, lentisk and mastic shrub. The…
Amaranthus cruentus commonly known as African spinach is a flowering plant species that yields the nourishing staple amaranth grain. It is one of three Amaranthus species cultivated as a grain source, the other two being Amaranthus hypochondriacus and Amaranthus caudatus. The plant is native to Central-South America particularly Peru. In Mexico, it is called huautli and in English it has numerous common names, including Indian-spinach, Sudan-spinach, blood amaranth, bush greens, caterpillar amaranth, panicled amaranth, purple amaranth, red amaranth, red shank, wild amaranth, grain amaranth, velvet flower, prince’s feather and Mexican grain amaranth. In Maharashtra, it is called shravani maath or…
Shisham or Indian rosewood scientifically known as Dalbergia sissoo is a fast-growing, hardy, deciduous tree belonging to Fabaceae (peas, legumes family). The plant is native to the foothills of the Himalayas of India, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar and possibly also neighboring countries. It is mostly found growing along riverbanks below 900 m elevations, but can ranges naturally up to 1500 m. Bombay blackwood, Himalaya raintree, India teakwood, Indian dalbergia, Indian rosewood, Sisham, sissoo, East Indian rosewood, penny leaf tree, shisham and sisso are some of the popular common names of the plant. Others include tanach, aagasra, padimi, tall, tahli, shin, yette,…
Aconitum heterophyllum commonly known as Ativisha, Indian Atis, Atis, and Atees is an herbaceous perennial plant belonging to Buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). The plant is native to Western Himalayas and occurs in the alpine Himalayas of Sikkim, Nepal and adjoining parts of southern Tibet also from Kashmir to the Kumaun hills at altitudes of 2500-3900 meters. Popular common names of the plant are Himalayan monkshood, Monk’s hood, Indian atees, Ativisha and Aruna. Apart from that it is also known as Shuklakanda, Bhangura, Ghunavallabha, Ghunapriya, Kaashmira, Vira, Visha, and Shishubhaishajya in Ayurveda. The root and tuber of the plant are used in…
Talinum fruticosum commonly known as Waterleaf is an herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the Portulacaceae (Purslane family). The plant is native to Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and much of South America. It is cultivated in West Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the warmer parts of North and South America. In Bolivia it is known from Beni, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, La Paz, Santa Cruz and Tarija. Popular common names include Ceylon spinach, waterleaf, cariru, Gbure, Surinam purslane, Philippine spinach, Florida spinach, potherb fame flower, Lagos bologi, Fame flower, Surinam spinach and sweetheart. Although the common name, Ceylon Spinach is actually…
Robinia pseudoacacia, commonly known in its native territory as black locust, false acacia or post locust are actually a medium-sized tree, belonging to the tribe Robinieae and pea (Fabaceae) family. The plant is native to few small areas of the Eastern United States, but it has been widely planted and naturalized elsewhere in temperate North America, Europe, Southern Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, other parts of North America and is considered an invasive species in some areas. Due to its durability, adaptability to highly disturbed sites and because it burns well for firewood, it became a popular tree to plant…
Tecoma Stans commonly known as Yellow Elder or Trumpet Flower is a species of flowering perennial shrub in the trumpet vine family, Bignoniaceae. The plant is native to American southwest, from Texas to Arizona, and regions of Chihuahua and Sonora, Mexico. It is often found in other warm climates of the Americas such as Florida, and the Caribbean. It can also be found as far south as Argentina. Yellow bells have become a nuisance weed and are even considered an invasive plant in Hawaii, and southern Florida. Some of the popular common names of the plant are Ginger-Thomas, Trumpet flower,…
Sea Blite scientifically known as Suaede maritima is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceous. The plant is native to Virginia north into eastern Canada but also two western counties in Florida, a county in the middle of Kentucky, one northern county in Washington, southern Alaska, and Manitoba. Herbaceous seepweed, rich’s seepweed, annual sea-Blite and Seaside Indian Saltwort are some of the popular common names of the plant. This plant resides in aquatic, terrestrial, and wetland habitats. But mainly in salt marshes and sea shores, usually below the high water mark. Sea Blite has a well-marked taste of…
Silene dioica (syn. Melandrium rubrum), commonly known as red campion and red catchfly is a herbaceous flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. The plant is native throughout central, western and northern Europe, and locally in southern Europe. It has been introduced in Iceland, Canada, the US, and Argentina. Some of the well-known common names of the plant are Morning campion, Red campion, Red catchfly, Red cockle, rough robin, Lord, God of Blood, Red Night Elke, Red Forest Elke and Taglicht Elke. Silene, the genus name, is a reference to the Greek woodland god Silenus the foster father of Bacchus, who…
Mallotus philippinensis commonly known as Kamala, Kampillaka, and Kapila, and locally known as Shendri is a very common perennial shrub or small tree found in outer Himalayas ascending to 1500 meters. It is a plant related to spurge family (Euphorbiaceae). The plant is native to South Asia, South East Asia and might originate from the Philippines. It has a wide range, from Mount Keira (N.S.W) in the extreme south and all the way to Afghanistan at the northern limit. It is popular in western Himalayas, through India, Sri Lanka, to southern China, Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands, Thailand, and throughout…
White Sapote scientifically known as Casimiroa edulis is an evergreen tree with spreading, often drooping branches and is a species of tropical fruiting tree in the Rue family (Rutaceae). The plant is native to eastern Mexico and Central America south to Costa Rica. It is distributed throughout tropical highland and subtropical areas of Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean region, India, Southeast Asia, New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Casimiroa, White sapote, Matasano, Mexican apple and Zapote are some of the popular common names of the plant and known as cochitzapotl in the Nahuatl language. The genus…
Balanites aegyptiaca also known as the Egyptian balsam or Desert Date is a species of tree, classified as a member of either the Zygophyllaceae or the Balanitaceae. The tree is native to much of African woodlands along the Sahara southern border and parts of the Middle East. It occurs in a wide ecological range, including the Saharan, Sahelian and Sudanian zones, and can also be found further south, down as far as Katanga and Tanzania. It is commonly seen in Israel, Jordan, the Arabian Peninsula, and the drier parts of Pakistan and India. It is cultivated in Cape Verde, the…
Prosopis cineraria, popularly known as Ghaf or Sangri, are a species of flowering tree in the pea family, Fabaceae ⁄ Leguminosae. The plant is native to dry portions of Western Asia and the Indian Subcontinent, including Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iran, India, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. It can be found in desert places where it can survive. It is an established introduced species in parts of Southeast Asia, including Indonesia. Apart from Sangri it is also known as Banni, Chaunkra, Hamra, Jambi, Jambu, Jammi chettu, Jand, Jhand, Jot, Kandi, Khaka, Khanjra, Khar, Khejdi, Khejra, Khejri, Khijado,…
Manilkara hexandra popularly known as Ceylon Iron Wood or Khirni is a tree species in the tribe Sapoteae, in the family Sapotaceae. The plant is native to much of south Asia (China: Hainan and southern Guangxi provinces; the Indian Subcontinent: Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka; Indo-China: Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. Its vernacular names differ regionally; for example Palu, Palai (பாலை) in Tamil or Rayan (පලු) in Sinhalese. It is locally known as the Khirni tree in parts of Bangladesh and India. In the Tamil language it is called Ulakkaippaalai or Kanuppaalai. Some of the popular common names of the…
Jiaogulan (pronounced Djauw-gu-lan) scientifically known as Gynostemma pentaphyllum is also called “immortality herb” or “eternal life herb” in China. Jiaogulan is a climbing plant belongs to the genus Gynostemma, in the family Cucurbitaceae, which includes cucumbers, gourds, and melons. Known in traditional Chinese medicine, this super herb grows naturally in Southern China but is now cultivated widely throughout Asia, most notably in Thailand, Vietnam, southern Korea and Japan. Jiaogulan has recently been incorporated into traditional medicine. Five-leaf ginseng, poor man’s ginseng, miracle grass, fairy herb, sweet tea vine, gospel herb, and southern ginseng, Gynostemma, Jiaogulan, Immortal Grass and Herb of…
Indigofera tinctoria, popularly known as true indigo, is a species of plant from the Fabaceae ⁄ Leguminosae (Pea family) that was one of the original sources of indigo dye. The plant is probably native to China, tropical Asia and parts of Africa, but the specific location is not entirely clear because this shrub has been in cultivation since at least 4000 BC with introduction and naturalization taking place in many places around the world before good records were kept. It became a cash crop in the Southeastern U.S. in the 1700s where it has now naturalized in some areas. Black…
Sea lettuce, which has the scientific name of Ulva lactuca and belongs to the family Ulvaceae, is perennial green seaweed that has a broad, translucent frond, which are two cell layers thick. It is the type species of the genus Ulva. A synonym is U. fenestrata, referring to its “windowed” or “holed” appearance. Sea lettuce, which is sometimes called green laver, is usually grown in Europe, Central America, New Zealand, Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean Islands, China, the Indian-Ocean Islands, the Pacific Islands, North America, and South America. However, the place where it grows most abundantly is in Irish shoreline.…
Plectranthus rotundifolius, synonyms Coleus rotundifolius and Solenostemon rotundifolius, commonly known as native or country potato in Africa and called Chinese potato in India, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Lamiaceae ⁄ Labiatae (mints, menthes family). The plant is native to tropical Africa. It is cultivated for its edible tubers mostly in Madagascar, tropical and southern Africa, Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia and Indonesia throughout continental Asia to Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, and the Moluccas and possibly in the Philippines. It is closely related to the coleus plants widely cultivated as ornamentals and is now again placed in the genus Coleus,…