Date plum scientifically known as Diospyros lotus is a tree species in the genus Diospyros which contains approximately 763 to 793 species and belongs to the family of the Ebenaceae (Ebony Family). The plant is considered to be one of the oldest plants cultivated by humans. The plant has an extensive native range, from subtropical areas of southwest Asia all the way to southeast Europe. It is very hard to establish today the actual native range of the species. The modern English name was given because the fruits taste like a cross between a date and a plum. The Latin…
Author: Sylvia
Syzygium samarangense also known as Java Apple, Java Rose apple is a plant species in the family Myrtaceae. The plant is native to Bangladesh to the Solomon Islands. It is commonly and widely cultivated in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Taiwan and now widely cultivated in the tropics. Common names in English include Java Apple, Java Rose apple, Mountain Apple, Samarang Rose Apple, Wax Apple, Wax Jambu, water apple, cloud apple, jambu air, bell fruit, Jamaican apple and Royal apple. In Malaysia, there are three species which bear edible fruits, namely, the water apple (Syzygium aqueum), Malay apple…
Common Ice plant scientifically known as Mesembryanthemum crystallinum is a prostrate succulent plant belonging to Fig-marigold family Aizoaceae. The plant is native to northern Africa (i.e. northern Algeria, northern Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt), south-western Africa (i.e. Namibia and South Africa), western Asia and southern Europe (i.e. Italy, south-western Yugoslavia, south-eastern France and Spain), and naturalized in North America, South America and Australia. The plant is covered with large, glistening bladder cells or water vesicles, reflected in its common names of common ice plant, crystalline ice plant or ice plant. Some of the popular common names of the plant…
West Indian elm or bay cedar scientifically known as Guazuma ulmifolia, is a medium-sized tree normally found in pastures and disturbed forests. This flowering plant from the family Malvaceae grows up to 30 m in height and 30–40 cm in diameter. The plant is native to Caribbean, Central America, Mexico and Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay, And Brazil. It is also found in Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Montserrat, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, St Kitts And Nevis,…
Diplocyclos palmatus also known as cucumber, striped cucumber or native bryony is a vine in the family Cucurbitaceae. It is commonly known as cucumber, native bryony, striped cucumber, lollipop climber, marble vine and red-striped cucumber. The plant is native to rainforests and dry rainforests habitats in the Malesia phyto region, including Papua New Guinea, and in Australia, in Western Australia, Northern Territory, Cape York Peninsula, North East Queensland, southwards to north-eastern New South Wales. The Latin name Diplocyclos is derived from the Greek word Diplos which means double and kyklos which means ring, and signifies the tendrils coiling. All…
Euphorbia neriifolia commonly known as Indian Spurge Tree or Common milk hedge is a prickly, large, erect shrub belonging to Spurge family Euphorbiaceae. The plant is native to dry, rocky and hilly areas of North, Central and South India, mostly in Deccan Peninsula and Orissa. It is indigenous plant of South Asia, but now locally cultivated and naturalizing in Sri Lanka, India, Burma (Myanmar), Bangladesh, Thailand and throughout the Malaysian region except for Borneo; also occasionally cultivated in other topical regions. It is also found in E. Asia – S. China, Vietnam, and New Guinea. Indian Spurge Tree, Oleander Spurge,…
Calotropis gigantea, commonly called crown flower or giant milkweed, is a large shrub or small tree belonging to Asclepiadaceae or Milkweed or Ak family which includes 280 genera and 2,000 species of world-wide distribution but most abundant in the sub-tropics and tropics, and rare in cold countries. The plant is native to continental Asia and South-East Asia and has been introduced in the Pacific Islands, Australia, Central and northern South America and Africa as an ornamental near villages and temples and as a weed. In Africa it is recorded from Gabon, DR Congo, Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Angola and Mozambique, as…
Stinking Toe Fruit or Jatoba scientifically known as Hymenaea courbaril is a huge canopy tree, growing to 30 m in height. Although it is occasionally denominated as Brazilian cherry and South American cherry it is not a cherry tree but a legume of the family Fabaceae. The plant is native to American tropics and is distributed in the West Indies, and in Central and South America from southern Mexico to Brazil. It is a popular plant with many names including West Indian Locust, umami-gum, Brazilian Cherry, South American Cherry, Jatoba, jatobá, stinking toe, algarrobo, azucar huayo, jataí, copal, Brazilian copal,…
Schisandra chinensis also known as magnolia-vine, Chinese magnolia-vine and schisandra is a woody vine belonging to Schisandraceae family. The plant is native to north-eastern China, Korea, and Japan, in the eastern part of Russia, in Primorsk, on the Kuril Islands and in the south of the Sakhalin Island. The plant likes some shade with moist, well-drained soil. Native to China and areas of Russia, the berries are said to possess all five basic flavors – salty, sweet, spicy, sour, and bitter – hence the name five-flavor berry. Few of the popular common names of the plant are Chinese magnolia vine,…
Agastache rugosa, commonly called Korean-mint or purple giant hyssop, is an aromatic herb in the mint family. Like other members of its family such as basil, peppermint, sage, Korean mint is also aromatic, and medicinally useful. The plant is native to moist grasslands, valleys and stream banks in East Asia (China, Japan, Korea, Russian Primorye, Taiwan, India, and Vietnam). Blue Licorice, Chinese Patchouli, wrinkled giant hyssop, purple giant hyssop, Indian mint, huo xiang, Chinese giant-hyssop, Korean-mint, Korean licorice mint and patchouli herb are few of the popular common names of the plant. Genus name comes from the Greek words agan…
Lead plant scientifically known as Amorpha canescens, is a small, perennial semi-shrub in the pea family (Fabaceae). The plant is native to areas in Manitoba and Ontario. In the U.S. it occurs from Montana east to Michigan, and south to New Mexico and Louisiana. The plant has got several common names including lead-plant, leadplant amorpha, downy indigo bush, prairie shoestrings, buffalo bellows, Amorpha brachycarpa, Downy false indigo and wild tea. Genus name comes from the Greek word amorphos meaning shapeless or deformed in reference to the corolla of this pea family genus lacking wings and a keel. The species canescens…
Quercus Alba, commonly called white oak is a large deciduous Missouri native tree belonging to Beech family Fagaceae. The plant is native to eastern and central North America and found from Minnesota, Ontario, Quebec, and southern Maine south as far as northern Florida and eastern Texas. Apart from white oak it is also known as White Oak, Northern White Oak, Eastern White Oak, Stave Oak, Ridge White Oak and Forked-leaf White Oak. White oak is the Illinois State Tree. Genus name comes from the classical Latin name for oak trees. Species name of Alba means white in reference to the…
Alchemilla vulgaris, common lady’s mantle, is an herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the rose family (Rosaceae). The plant is native to whole of Europe and is naturalized in North America. These perennial wildflowers, members of the rose family, are sometimes grown in gardens mainly for their leaves, which collect sparkling water droplets. The plant is commonly seen in unimproved or lightly fertilized grassland, on roadside verges and banks, in chalk down land and on mountain slopes. Lion’s Foot, Bear’s Foot, Nine Hooks, Leontopodium, Stellaria, common alchemilla, intermediate lady’s mantle and lady’s mantle are few of the popular common names of…
Bear’s breeches scientifically known as Acanthus mollis, commonly known as sea dock, bearsfoot or oyster plant, is an herbaceous perennial plant with an underground rhizome in the genus Acanthus. It is regarded as an invasive species in some jurisdictions. For centuries, stone or bronze stylized versions of acanthus leaves have appeared as decoration on certain styles of architecture and furniture. The plant is native to southern Europe, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and the Mediterranean islands, Turkey, Syria and the Canary Islands. Most of the lands where this flower grows are the wild lands. Apart from bear’s breeches it is also known…
Abelmoschus manihot or sunset muskmallow often known as Sweet Hibiscus, Edible Hibiscus, is a large annual or perennial flowering plant in the family Malvaceae. It was previously considered a species of Hibiscus, but is now classified in the genus Abelmoschus. The plant is native to Southeast Asia, but an ancient introduction to Melanesia and from Fiji to Western Polynesia. It is a very popular green vegetable or spinach in Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga. It is a minor crop and less popular in Samoa and Cook Islands. It is found to grow extremely well in Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa, Cook Islands and…
Pithecellobium dulce commonly known as Blackbead, Camachile tree is a genus of flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae that is inhabitant to the Pacific Coast and adjacent highlands of Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. It is an introduced species and extensively naturalized in the Caribbean, Florida, Guam, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Thailand and the Philippines. It is considered an invasive species in Hawaii. Known by several other common names such as Blackbead, Camachile tree, Madras thorn, Manila tamarind, Opiuma, Sweet inga, Manilla Tamarind, Guayamochil, Monkey Pod and much more, in the region of Hawaii, it is…
Amaranthus spinosus, commonly known as the spiny amaranth, spiny pigweed, prickly amaranth or thorny amaranth belongs to Amaranth family Amaranthaceae. The plant is widely distributed throughout the tropics and warm temperate regions of Asia from Japan to Indonesia to India, the Pacific islands, native to tropical America and Australia as a weed in cultivated as well as fallow lands. The plant is sometimes a noxious weed. It can be a serious weed of rice cultivation in Asia. You can cook the leaves and stems or eaten raw to get its very nutritious benefits. Prickly amaranth, Spiny amaranth, Thorny amaranth, Thorny…
Alternanthera bettzickiana, commonly known as calico-plant, is a species of flowering plant in the amaranth family, Amaranthaceae. It is commonly used as an ornamental edging plant. The plant is native to South America; its cultivar ‘Red’ is similar in appearance to some of the Alternanthera dentata and Alternanthera brasiliana varieties. Baptist plant, Calico plant, Parrot leaf, border plant, Jacob’s coat, Joseph’s coat, red calico plant, joyweed and shoofly are few of the most popular common names of the Calico plant. Plant Description Calico plant is an herbaceous perennial plant that grows between 20 and 50 cm tall. The plant is…
Hogvine, also referred to as Yellow merremia, Yellow wood rose has the scientific name Merremia umbellata is a twining, herbaceous plant belonging to Convolvulaceae family. The plant is native to Tropical East Africa, Seychelles, India, and Sri Lanka eastwards to China, Indo-China, Thailand, and southwards through Malesia to northern Australia. It occurs in America from Mexico to Paraguay, in the West Indies and in tropical West Africa. Hogvine, greater bindweed, Hog vine, yellow hog vine, yellow merremia, yellow morning glory and yellow wood rose are few of the popular common names of the plant. Plant description Hogvine is a twining,…
Alternanthera sessilis also known as Sessile joyweed is an aquatic plant known by several common names, including ponnanganni in Tamil, ponnaganti aaku in Telugu, Honnagone in Kannada Mukunuwenna in Sinhala. It is used as a vegetable especially in Sri Lanka and some Asian countries. The plant is native throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World. It has been introduced to the southern United States, and its origins in Central and South America are uncertain. Rabbit meat, Sessile joyweed, dwarf copperleaf, joyweed, Tangle Mat, sessile alligator weed, sessile flower globe amaranth, carpet weed, water Amaranth and Brede Chevrette…
Campsis radicans commonly known as trumpet vine or trumpet creeper, also known in North America as cow itch vine or hummingbird vine, is a species of flowering plant of the family Bignoniaceae. The Plant is native to eastern, north-central, and south-central portions of the United States and has become naturalized in New England. Its natural range occurs from New Jersey to Ontario and Iowa, and south to Florida and Texas. It inhabits woodlands and riverbanks, and is also a popular garden subject. Cow Itch Vine, Hummingbird Vine, Trumpet Creeper, Trumpet Vine, common trumpet creeper, Cow vine, foxglove vine, hell vine…
Cissampelos pareira commonly known as false pareira root, Ice vine, is a species of flowering plant in the family Menispermaceae. The plant is native to Florida, although rare or possibly locally extinct. It is also found throughout tropical Asia and Africa, although it is not clear whether it is native or naturalized there. Midwife’s herb, Nemooka plant, Velvet leaf, Velvetleaf, False pareira root and Ice vine are few of the popular common names of the plant. The genus Cissampelos is derived from the Greek words kissos meaning Ivy and ampelos meaning vine. The name refers to the ivy-like resemblance of…
Semecarpus anacardium, commonly known as marking nut tree, phobi nut tree and varnish tree, is a well-known medicinal plant belonging to family Anacardiaceae. The plant is native to India and found in the outer Himalayas to Coromandel Coast. The plant is found in abundance in Assam, Bihar, Bengal and Orissa, Chittagong, central India and western peninsula of East Archipelago, Northern Australia. It is closely related to the cashew. Marking Nut, dhobi nut tree, Indian marking nut tree, Malacca bean, marany nut, marsh nut, oriental cashew nut, varnish tree, Marking nut tree and Phobi nut-tree are few of the popular common…
Rubia cordifolia or Manjishtha, often known as Indian madder or common madder, is a species of flowering plant in the coffee family, Rubiaceae. It has been cultivated for a red pigment derived from roots. The plant is native to Greece, North Africa, Siberia, Manchuria, China, Japan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bhutan, Sikkam, Nepal, and Tibet. In Pakistan, it is commonly found in Waziristan, Murram, Peshawar, Dir, Chitral, Swat, Gilgit, Muree Hills, Poonch, and Abbottabad. Common names of this plant include manjistha in Sanskrit, Marathi, Kannada and Bengali, majith in Hindi and Gujarati, tamaralli in Telugu and manditti in Tamil. Apart from…
Shell Ginger also known as bright ginger has scientific name Alpinia zerumbet is a perennial species of ginger from the family of Zingiberaceae. The plant is native to eastern Asia—South Japan to Taiwan and South China to Northern Peninsula and Malaysia. Bright Ginger, Butterfly Ginger, Light Galangal, Pink Porcelain Lily, Pink Shell Heliconia, Shell Flower, Shell Ginger, Shell Plant, Variegated Ginger and Variegated Shell Ginger are few of the popular common names of the plant. The genus is honored to the Italian physician and botanist Prospero Alpini (1553-1617). The specific name is the local one utilized in India. They are…
Artocarpus integer, commonly known as cempedak or chempedak is a species of tree in the family Moraceae, and in the same genus as breadfruit and jack fruit. The plant is native to Southeast Asia. Cempedak is an important crop in Malaysia and is also popularly cultivated in southern Thailand and parts of Indonesia, and has the potential to be utilized in other areas. It is currently limited in range to south-east Asia, with some trees in Australia and Hawaii. In India, it grows in the southern states of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Cempedak grows in tropical regions where…
Botanically known as Psidium guineense, the Brazilian guava is also known as guayaba brava, goiaba in Portuguese and Castilian guava in California. Psidium guineense is a species of guava belonging to Myrtle family Myrtaceae. The Brazilian guava is considered a “tropical guava” as it is native to the tropics and grows year-round in those areas. The plant is native to American tropics and sub-tropics, occurring naturally from northern Argentina and Peru to southern Mexico, and in the Caribbean – Trinidad, Martinique, Jamaica and Cuba. It is cultivated to a limited extent in Martinique, Guadeloupe, the Dominican Republic and southern California.…
Bengal Ginger scientifically known as Zingiber montanum is a species of plant in the family Zingiberaceae, with no subspecies listed in the Catalogue of Life. The plant is native to India and Southeast Asia – Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. It has become an invasive species in the Caribbean and South America. Bengal Ginger, Bitter Ginger, Cassumunar Ginger, Thai Ginger, Cassumar ginger, Bengal root and Mountain Ginger are few of the popular common names of the plant. Plant description Bengal Ginger is an herbaceous, perennial, clumping herb that grows about 2 m high. The plant is found growing in wetland…
Fiji Longan also known as Matoa has scientific name Pometia pinnata is a large tropical hardwood and fruit tree from the family of Sapindaceae and is closely related to lychee and maple. Naturally widespread, the trees grow through Andaman Islands, China (Yunnan), Fiji, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Nicobar Islands, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Salomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Vanuatu, Vietnam and Wallis and Futuna Islands. The genus is honored to the French botanist Pierre Pomet (1658-1699); the specific name is the Latin adjective “pinnatus, a, um” = fledged, winged, with reference to the pinnate leaves. Apart from Fiji…
Amorphophallus paeoniifolius, the elephant foot yam or whitespot giant arum, is a highly potential tropical tuber crop belonging to the family Araceae. The plant is native to Tropical Asia. It grows wild in Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries. It is also found in India, southern China, New Guinea, Northern Australia and Polynesia. It is an important tuber crop of tropical and sub-tropical countries because of its yield potential and culinary properties. In India, it has gained the status of a cash crop due to its high production potential, market acceptability and profitable economic returns…