African eggplants, botanically classified as Solanum macrocarpon, are a tropical perennial plant that is closely related to the eggplant and belongs to the family Solanaceae which is grown for its edible fruits which are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. They range in color and shape, depending upon the cultivar, and are divided into four groups categorized by size, shape, and method of use: Gilo, Shum, Kumba, and Aculeatum. The plant originated from West Africa, but is now widely distributed in Central and East Africa. Through an introduction from West Africa, the plant also grows in the Caribbean, South America,…
Author: Sylvia
Rubber plant botanically known as Ficus elastica Roxb. is a large or medium house plant with beautiful foliage belonging to the fig genus and Moraceae family. The plant is native to Indian Sub-continent (i.e. Bhutan, northern India and Nepal) and south-eastern Asia (i.e. Myanmar and Indonesia). It has become naturalized in Sri Lanka, the West Indies, and the US State of Florida and propagates mainly by seeds, cuttings or layering. The plant has beautiful plastic-like leaves which gives the plant a unique appearance and adds up the artistic sense of the room. Few of the popular common names of the…
Podocarpus macrophyllus commonly known as Buddhist pine is a conifer in the genus Podocarpus and family Podocarpaceae. The plant is native to China (Anhui, Chongqing, Fujian, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hong-Kong, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Zhejiang), Japan, Myanmar and Taiwan. Common names of the plant include Big-leaf podocarp, Buddhist pine, Japanese yew, Shrubby yew, Shrubby podocarpus, Yew plum pine, Broad-leaved podocarp, Southern yew, Long-leaved podocarp, big leaf podocarp, yew plum pine, kusamaki, yew podocarp, Chinese Podocarpus and Chinese Yew Pine. Kusamaki and inumaki are Japanese names for this tree. In China, it is known as luóhàn sōng, which literally…
Scaphium affine or Sterculia lychnophora commonly known as Malva Nut Tree is an evergreen tree species in the family Malvaceae and subfamily Sterculioideae. The plant is native to Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo (throughout the island). It may be known as the malva nut tree, or occasionally the Taiwan sweet gum tree, Malva Nut, Makjong and Kembang Semangkok and has culinary and traditional medicinal uses, although these may also apply to the similar Scaphium macropodum. In China, malva nut is used in tea as well by mixing with other ingredients such as sugar candy, red…
Snow Fungus, botanically classified as Tremella fuciformis, is a wild, edible fungus that belongs to the Tremellaceae family. The plant is native to tropical and subtropical regions around the world, but extends into temperate areas in Asia and North America. It is known throughout South and Central America, the Caribbean, parts of North America, sub-Saharan Africa, southern and eastern Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. Also known as the snow ear, silver ear fungus, white jelly mushroom, bai mu erh, shirokikurage, silver tree-ear fungus, white jelly-leaf, white muer, white tree-ear, wood ear fungus, Silver Ear mushroom, Tremella mushroom,…
Momordica dioica, commonly known as spiny gourd or spine gourd is a species of flowering plant belonging to family Cucurbitaceae along with squash and pumpkins. Bitter gourd, a species related to kakrol, has been shown to have pharmacological properties including anti-diabetic and anti-steatotic effects. The plant is native to tropical regions on Asia with extensive distribution in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Japan, South East Asia, Polynesia besides tropical Africa and South America. It is used as a vegetable in all regions of India and some parts in South Asia; it has commercial importance and is exported and used locally. The…
Agropyron cristatum, the crested wheat grass, fairway crested wheat grass, is a densely tufted grass species member of the Poaceae or grass family. The plant is native to Africa, temperate Asia, and parts of Europe. It was introduced to North and South America as a forage crop. It is well known as a widespread introduced species on the prairies of the United States and Canada. This plant is often used as forage and erosion control. Fairway crested wheatgrass, Fairway wheatgrass, desert wheatgrass and crested couch grass are few of the popular common names of Crested wheatgrass. Plant Description Crested wheatgrass…
Pterocarpus santalinus, with the common names red sanders, red sandalwood, Rakt Chandan, and saunderswood, belonging to Fabaceae family and genus Pterocarpus endemic to the southern Eastern Ghats mountain range of South India. This tree is valued for the rich red color of its wood. The wood is not aromatic. Red sandalwood should not be confused with our regular sandalwood which is very aromatic, red sandalwood bark does not have any smell and unlike sandalwood, the bark is red in color. Red sanders, Red sanderswood, Red saunders, Red sandalwood, Ruby wood, Red Sandas, Sandalwood, Almug, Saunderswood and Agaru are some of…
Archidendron jiringa or Archidendron pauciflorum, commonly known as Ngapi Nut, Djenkol, Jenkol or Jering is a species of flowering tree in the pea family, Fabaceae. The plant is native to Southeast Asian countries and occurs wild and cultivated in Malaysia, Indonesia (Java, Sumatra, and Kalimantan), Brunei, Thailand, Burma and Bangladesh. Popular common names of Ngapi Nut are Blackbead, Dog Fruit, Djengkol Tree, Luk Nieng Tree, Jing, Nieng, Niang, Kanieng, Chanieng, Yawng, Ngapi nut, Dhinyindi, Jering, Cha niang, Jaring and Tutung. They are mainly consumed in Thailand, Malaysia, Burma, and Indonesia and prepared by frying, boiling, or roasting and are also…
Malay apple scientifically known as Syzygium malaccense is an evergreen tree belonging to Myrtle family Myrtaceae. The plant is native to Southeast Asia to Vanuatu, but its exact origin is uncertain, probably in the lowland rainforests of Peninsular Malaysia, Java and Sumatra. It is now cultivated and naturalized in many countries throughout the tropics, particularly in Indo-Malaysia, Southeast Asia, East Africa, Central and South America, Melanesia, Polynesia and Micronesia. It is one of the species cultivated since prehistoric times by the Austronesian peoples. They were carried and introduced deliberately to Remote Oceania as canoe plants. In modern times, it has…
Pennyroyal is known botanically as Mentha pulegium. It belongs to the Lamiaceae or mint family and is commonly known by other names, including European pennyroyal, pennyrile, squaw mint, mosquito plant, and pudding grass. The plant is native to Europe, parts of Asia as well as to the Middle East. It was introduced to places in Africa along with Australia and New Zealand. Both Hedeoma pulegioldes (American pennyroyal) and Mentha puleguim (European pennyroyal) are referred to as pennyroyal. They are both creeping plants with small lilac flowers and grayish-green leaves. Although considered unusual in much of California, pennyroyal occurs in the…
Simarouba glauca, otherwise known as Paradise Tree or Bitter Wood, is an evergreen tree belonging to Quassia family Simaroubaceae. The plant is native to Bahamas, Costa Rica, Cuba, EI-Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto rico, united states of America. Its popular common names includes aceituno, bitterwood, paradise tree, pasaque, Simarouba, gavilan, negrito, marubá, marupá, dysentery bark, bitterwood, paradise tree, palo blanco, robleceillo, caixeta, daguilla, cedro blanco, cajú-rana, malacacheta, palo amargo, pitomba, bois amer, bois blanc, bois frene, bois negresse and simaba. The fruits can be eaten raw but are of inferior quality. The seed produces edible oil used in…
Cardiospermum halicacabum commonly known as Balloon Vine is a deciduous plant belonging to Soapberry family Sapindaceae. The plant is native to Africa (i.e. Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Cameroon, Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa), the Caribbean and tropical South America (i.e. Venezuela, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay). It is also cultivated in the Philippines and Burma. The word Cardiospermum is the combination of the Latin words cardio, meaning heart, and sperma, meaning seed and refers to the white heart-shaped pattern on the seed. Halicacabum is derived from the Latin word halicacabus, a plant…
Crotalaria verrucosa commonly known as blue rattlepod is a species of flowering plant in the legume family, Fabaceae. This shrub belongs to the sub family Faboideae. The plant is native to Bangladesh, China, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam; Australasia and Africa & Americas regions. Sweet Pea, Warty Crotalaria, Tooth-Leaved Rattlepod, Blue-Flowered Rattlepod, Blue Rattlepod, Blue Rattlesnake, Warty Rattlebox, Blue Rattleweed, blue-flowered crotalaria, purple popbush, shack-shack, tooth-leaf rattlepod, Blue Andana, Purple Rattlebox, Warted Crotalaria, Blue Rattle-box and Cascavelle á Fleurs Bleues are few of the popular common names of the plant. Plant Description…
Corchorus capsularis, commonly known as white jute, is a shrub species in the family Malvaceae. The plant originated in China but is now grown in Bangladesh and India, and found spread across much of tropical Africa. It is also cultivated in the Amazon region of Brazil. Bangla white jute, Jute, White jute, round-podded jute, jute plant, jute, Nalta jute are few of the popular common names of the plant. It is one of the sources of jute fiber, considered to be of finer quality than fiber from Corchorus olitorius, the main source of jute. The leaves are used as a…
Telfairia occidentalis commonly known Fluted Gourd is a tropical vine grown in West Africa as a leaf vegetable and for its edible seeds. It is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family and is indigenous to southern Nigeria. The fluted gourd grows in many nations of West Africa, but is mainly cultivated in Igboland and Calabarland and it is used primarily in soups and herbal medicines. Common names of the plant are Fluted gourd, Fluted Pumpkin, oysternut, Apiroko, Calabaza, Emeke, Gonugbe, Iroko, Krobonko, Oysternut, Pondokoko, Ubong, Ugu, Umee, ikong-ubong, Umwenkhen and ugwu. The plant is a drought-tolerant, dioecious perennial that is…
Cirsium arvense commonly known as creeping thistle is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. The plant is native to southeastern Europe and the eastern Mediterranean area, and was probably introduced to North America. In addition to North America, Canada thistle is invasive in northern and southern Africa, the Middle East, Japan, India, New Zealand, Australia, and South America. The Standard English name in its native area is creeping thistle. Few of the popular common names of the plant are Creeping thistle, Field thistle, Californian thistle, Canadian thistle, lettuce from hell thistle, corn thistle, cursed thistle, field…
Citrus sinensis, commonly known as orange or sweet orange, is a small evergreen tree belonging to Rue family Rutaceae. The plant is native to south East Asia from southern China but is today grown commercially worldwide in tropical, semi-tropical and some warm temperate regions to become the most widely planted fruit tree in the world. It is not a naturally occurring species. Based on genetic analysis, most experts agree that this is a hybrid plant resulting from a purposeful cross between a hybrid mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata) and a hybrid pomelo (Citrus maxima). Exactly when and where this cross took…
Rhus coriaria commonly known as Sumac, also spelled sumach and sumaq, is any one of about 35 species of flowering plants in the genus Rhus and related genera, in the family Anacardiaceae. Sumac grows in subtropical and temperate regions throughout the world, especially in East Asia, Africa, and North America. Few of the popular common names of the plant are Culinary sumac, Elm-leaved sumach, Sicilian sumac, Spice sumac, Sumac berry, Tanner’s sumac, Tanner’s sumach, Tanning sumac, Sumach, inko plant, Sicilian sumach, sumach and tanner’s plant. The dried fruits are used as a spice, particularly in combination with other spices in…
Rubus caesius is a Eurasian species of dewberry, commonly known as the European dewberry. Just like other dewberries, it is a species of flowering plant in the rose family (Rosaceae), related to the blackberry. The plant is widely distributed across much of Europe and Asia from Ireland and Portugal as far east as Xinjiang Province in western China. It has also become economically naturalized in distributed locations in Argentina, Canada, and the United States. European dewberry, Dewberry, Common Dewberry, blue bramble and youngberry are few of the most popular common names of the plant. It is a low-growing perennial and…
Digitaria sanguinalis is a species of grass known by several common names, including hairy crabgrass, hairy finger-grass, large crabgrass, crab finger grass, purple crabgrass. The plant is native to Europe or Eurasia and is distributed worldwide. It is one of the better-known species of the genus Digitaria, and one that is known nearly worldwide as a common weed. It is used as animal fodder, and the seeds are edible and have been used as a grain in Germany and especially Poland, where it is occasionally cultivated. This has earned it the name Polish millet. The genus name Digitaria is derived…
Sacha inchi scientifically known as plukenetia volubilis is a star-shaped fruit in the family Euphorbiaceae, having small trichomes on its leaves. It is also known as the Inca peanut, wild peanut, mountain peanut, sacha peanut, Amendoim-de-Inka, Amuio, Ticazo, Wild peanut or Supua and is actually a seed, which grows within the star-shaped fruit pod. The plant is native to much of tropical South America (Suriname, Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and northwestern Brazil), as well as some of the Windward Islands in the Caribbean. It is cultivated commercially in South East Asia, most notably in Thailand. Today, it’s also being…
Scientifically known as Rumex scutatus, French sorrel is leafy vegetable that is also used as an herb. The herb belonging the family of polygonaceae and Genus of rumex and is also planted as a pot herb. The plant is often confused with Garden sorrel, but is in fact a separate species. Both produce green spinach-like leaves that can be prepared in similar manners, but French sorrel is a smaller plant with a milder flavor and more succulent texture. The plant is native to Europe and has become widespread in North America and southwest Asia. Its popular common names include Buckler’s…
Duchesnea indica (sometimes called Potentilla indica), known commonly by the names mock strawberry, Indian strawberry, or false strawberry, is a flowering plant belonging to family Rosaceae. The plant is often confused with wild strawberry. They have similar leaves and fruits, but mock strawberry produces yellow flowers while wild strawberries have white flowers. It has foliage and a collective accessory fruit similar to that of a true strawberry. It has yellow flowers, unlike the white or slightly pink flowers of true strawberries. The plant is native to Indian Sub-continent (i.e. Bhutan, India, Nepal and Pakistan), Afghanistan, China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and…
Marjoram scientifically known as Origanum majorana, also called wild oregano or sweet marjoram is an herb that is a member of the mint (Lamiaceae) family. Although closely associated with oregano, marjoram and oregano are two different herbs. Both are commonly used in Greek and Mediterranean recipes, but marjoram has a lighter, sweeter, more floral flavor than oregano. The herb is native to Cyprus and the neighboring part of South Turkey. It is cultivated in several countries in Europe, Africa, America, and Asia. It is also called pot marjoram, although this name is also used for other cultivated species of Origanum.…
Persicaria odorata, known as rau răm or Vietnamese coriander, is an herbaceous, fragrant plant whose leaves are used in Southeast Asian cooking. Vietnamese coriander is not related to the mints, nor is it in the mint family Lamiaceae, but its general appearance and fragrance are reminiscent of them. Persicaria is in the family Polygonaceae, collectively known as “smartweeds” or “pink weeds”. The plant is native to Indo-China. Since the 1960s its cultivation has spread with Vietnamese migrants, mainly to Australia, the Philippines and the United States. Additional common names for this plant include Cambodian mint, praew leaf, Asian Mint, Laksa…
Apple Mint scientifically known as Mentha suaveolens is also known as pineapple mint, woolly mint or round-leafed mint. It belongs to the scientific family Lamiaceae that also includes many of the other important aromatic cooking herbs, like basil, rosemary, sage, oregano, and catnip. It is a perennial plant belongs to the genus of Mentha. The plant is native to southern and western Europe including the Mediterranean region and is naturalized in central and northern parts of Europe. Other names occasionally used include Apple mint, Pineapple mint, Round-leaf mint, Round-leaved mint, Big-leaved mint, horse mint and woolly mint. Genus name comes…
Water mint or wild mint is a perennial flowering plant from the Lamiaceae ⁄ Labiatae – Mint family, with the scientific name Mentha aquatica. It is very similar to other mint types like Mentha arvensis (or the corn mint) but like the name suggests it prefers wetlands and will even grow in water. The plant is native in almost all of the countries in Europe as well as in northern Africa and western Asia. It has been introduced to North and South America, Australia and some Atlantic islands. Water mints are a good companion for broccoli, cabbage or cauliflowers. Creeping…
Lavandula angustifolia most commonly known as true lavender, common lavender or English lavender, formerly L. officinalis, is a flowering plant in the Lamiaceae ⁄ Labiatae (Mint family). The plant is native to Mediterranean region, the Arabian Peninsula, and Russia. It is grown in Europe, the United States, and Australia. It has been a mainstay of herb gardens for many years. It was reportedly named English lavender because of its ability to grow well in the English climate. This “true lavender” is commercially planted for harvesting its oils for use in perfumes. Lavender flowers and foliage are also popular additions…
Malus sylvestris, the European crab apple or wild apples, is a species of the genus Malus that belongs to the rose family Rosaceae. The plant is native to temperate regions of North America, Asia, and Europe. They are primarily cultivated in South India, Madras, and Sri Lanka. Its scientific name means “forest apple”. It is found growing as single individuals or in small groups in forest edges, thickets, hedgerows or roadsides. It is a popular plant with many names including crab apple, European crab apple, wild apple, wild crab, wild crab apple and pommier Sauvage. Plant Description Crab apple is…