Blue vervain scientifically known as Verbena hastata is a flowering plant in the vervain family, Verbenaceae. The plant is native to wet meadows, wet river bottomlands, stream banks, slough peripheries, fields and waste areas of Americas, the Mediterranean region and the Near East. Few of the common names of the plant are Simpler’s Joy, American blue vervain, Blue Vervain, Herb of Grace, Herba veneris, Swamp Verbena, Vervain, Wild hyssop, Wild Vervain, American vervain, false vervain, ironweed, swamp vervein and blue verbena. Genus name comes from a Latin name used for some plants in religious ceremonies and also in medicine. Specific…
Author: Sylvia
Prunus serotina, commonly known as black cherry, wild black cherry, rum cherry, or mountain black cherry, is actually a medium- to large-sized tree belonging to the genus Prunus and Rosaceae (Rose family). The plant is native to eastern North America: from eastern Canada through southern Quebec and Ontario; south through the eastern United States to Texas and central Florida; with disjunct populations in Arizona and New Mexico; and in the mountains of Mexico and Guatemala. Few of the popular common names of the plant are American cherry, American black cherry, Bird cherry, Plum cherry, Cabinet cherry, Black cherry, Rum cherry,…
Henna (hina) scientifically known as Lawsonia inermis is actually a flowering plant belonging to the Lythraceae (Loosestrife family) (a family of flowering plants that includes 620 species). It is the only plant species in the genus Lawsonia. The plant is native to southwest Asia, North Africa, and India, but has also become naturalized in warmer parts of South and North America, Australia and the West Indies. Some of the common names of the plant are Hina, Henna, Jamaica mignonette, Mignonette tree, Egyptian-privet, alcana, camphire, Mignonette bush, Smooth Lawsonia, Cypress Shrub, Henna Plant, Mindie, inai, hinai and Pacar kuku. The word…
Coccoloba uvifera commonly known as sea grape, uva de playa or uvero in Spanish and raisin bord de mer in French is a small, low branching shrub or tree that grows up to 15m in height. It is a flowering plant from the Polygonaceae family, which also includes buckwheat. The plant is native to coastal beaches throughout tropical America and the Caribbean, including southern Florida, the Bahamas, Barbados and Bermuda. Few of the popular common names of the plant are Bay Grape, Bow Pigeon, Caracas Kino, Coccoloba Kino, Columbian Kino, Hopwood, Horse wood, Jamaican Kino, Mangrove Grape, Platter leaf, Pigeon…
Coccoloba caracasana commonly known as Papaturro is actually a tree in the family Polygonaceae (Buckwheat family). The plant is native to Mexico and Central America. This tree ranges from El Salvador to Panama and northern South America, where it is most common in the Pacific regions. Its name is derived from the Greek “kokkolobis” because of the similarity of the bunches of its fruits with those of a kind of grape (Vitis). Economically, the species is useful for its edible fruit. The wood is used as firewood and for poles. The foliage is ornamental and hung for shade. Plant Description…
Cnidoscolus aconitifolius also known as Chaya, aka ‘Mayan Tree Spinach’ or ‘Mexican Tree Spinach’, is actually a large fast-growing and productive perennial shrub from the Euphorbiaceae (Spurge) family of plants. The plant is native to Central America, and is supposed to have originated on the Yucatan peninsula. Few of the popular common names of the plant are Spinach Tree, Tread Softly, Cabbage Star, Chaya, Chicasquil, Devil nettle and Tree-spinach. Regionally it is known as just “chaya”, which is derived from the Mayan word for the plant which is “chaay”. Ancient Mayan’s used chaya as a dietary staple for centuries because…
Celastrus paniculatus is actually an unarmed woody climbing shrub commonly known as Black Oil Plant, Climbing staff plant, Intellect plant, Oriental bittersweet, Celastrus, Staff tree, Malkangni, Kangani, Jyotishmati, Sphutabandhani and Svarnalota. The plant is found growing throughout India up to a height of almost 1,800-2,000 meters and belongs to the class Angiospermae and family Celastraceae. Apart from that it is also found in Malaysia, Thailand, Indo-china, China, Taiwan, Myanmar, Australia, Sri-lanka and Philippines. Oil from the seeds is used as a traditional medicine in Indian Unani and Ayurvedic medicine. Plant description Intellect tree is an unarmed woody, large deciduous twining…
Acai plum scientifically known as Euterpe oleracea is a slender, multi-stemmed, monoecious palm in the Arecaceae ⁄ Palmae (Palm family) cultivated for its fruit, hearts of palm, leaves and trunk wood. The plant is native to Brazil, Trinidad and other countries of northern South America, mainly in swamps and floodplains. Acai berries, pronounced ah-sigh-EE, come from the acai palm tree. Few of the common names of the plant are Assai palm, Cabbage palm, acai, Euterpe Palm, acai palm, jussara, Para palm, Asai, Naidi, Pinot, Pina palm, Palmito acai, Palmiteiro, Pina, Ucai, Manaka, Acai-do-para, Jucara, Wasei and Pina. The genus epithet…
Citrus latifolia is known by many common names such as Bearss Lime, Persian Lime, Seedless Lime, Tahiti Lime, Tahitian Lime, Persische Limette, Tahitilimette and lima da Persia. The nearly-thorn less trees in the Rutaceae (citrus family) grow robustly to a medium-large size with a spreading form and have white blossoms. It is a tree of the citrus family that produces the most common type of lime. The plant is native to southern Iraq and Iran, although other varieties were developed in the U.S. and Florida. Persian lime is of hybrid origin. It is actually the result from a cross between…
Cassia grandis, commonly known as Corel shower tree, pink shower tree or horse cassia is actually a medium sized semi deciduous canopy tree in the Fabaceae ⁄ Leguminosae (Pea family). The plants native range spans from Mexico to Brazil, with documented presence also on the western edge of South America, as well as some islands of the Caribbean including Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico. It is thought to have originated in the Amazon basin. In its native range, pink shower commonly occurs in drier forest types, along river banks, and in areas that are prone to periodic flooding. Few of…
White corn scientifically known as Zea mays L. var. indentata is a sweet corn variety and is a member of the Poaceae ⁄ Gramineae (Grass family). The plant is native to Mesoamerica, probably in the Mexican highlands. It is technically classified as a grain crop, though when harvested young, it is utilized as a vegetable. Genus name comes from the Greek name for another cereal. Specific epithet comes from the Mexican vernacular name for maize. Few of the common names of the plant are Maize, Turkish wheat, Field corn, Corn, Indian corn, Grain maize and Cultivated maize. The less white…
Citrofortunella microcarpa, commonly known as calamondin or orange calamondin, is actually a small, bushy, evergreen tree or shrub belongs to the Rutaceae (Rue family). The plant is said to have originated from China or Philippines and has spread out through South East Asia, India, Hawaii, West Indies, Central and North America where it was acquired the name “acid orange” as it resembles an orange. The plant is believed to be a natural hybrid between a sour, loose-skinned mandarin, probably Citrus reticulata var. Austera, and a kumquat, perhaps Fortunella margarita. The “X” preceding the genus name indicates that this hybrid is…
Wild Honeytree scientifically known as Casearia decandra is actually a small, bushy, evergreen tree from the Flacourtiaceae (Flacourtia family). The plant is native to tropical regions from the West Indies and Honduras in Central America south to Bolivia, Paraguay, and northern Argentina. Few of the common names of the plant are biscuit wood, Guaçatumba, pipe wood, Bois jaune, Caracolillo, Coco-ravet, Corcho blanco, Cotorrerillo, Guia mansa, Jaune d’oeuf, Jumbieapple, Palo Blanco, Wild Cherry, white cork, gentle guide and white stick. The edible fruit is gathered from the wild and consumed locally, but is not widely appreciated. The tree is also sometimes…
Teff scientifically known as Eragrostis tef is a common cereal crop of Poaceae or Gramioneae family with small grains. The plant is believed to have originated in Ethiopia between 4000 and 1000 BC and can be grown over a very wide range of altitudes (sea level to 3,000 m). Teff is now grown in India, Europe, Australia, Canada and America. Some of the popular common names of the plant are Williams’s love grass, annual bunch grass and taf, tef, teff, Abyssinian love grass, Ethiopian millet and Teff grass. The plant is primarily cultivated cereal crop in Ethiopia with high market…
Coco plum scientifically known as Chrysobalanus icaco is a slow growing tree belonging to the chrysobalanaceae family. The cocoplum plant is native to inland and coastal areas of central and south Florida, the West Indies, Mexico, Central America, South America, and West and Central Africa. These Plants often grow in brushes on sandy soils on the other side it grows singly on rocky coastal extensions. These plants thrive best in moderate climatic conditions and are extremely tolerant of drought, wind and even salt spray, but they give in wet or shady conditions. Few of the common names of the plant…
Datura stramonium, known by the English names Thorn Apple (Datura), jimsonweed or devil’s snare, is a plant in the Solanaceae family which is only of the deadliest from the Nightshade family. It is considered to have originated in North America, probably Mexico, but it is now widespread in vacant lots, along roadsides, and in other “waste places” in temperate and warm regions around the world. Other popular common names for the plant include Jamestown weed, Common thorn-apple, False castor-oil, Jimsonweed, Mad apple, Moonflower, Purple thorn-apple, datura, Stinkwort, Thorn apple, Devil’s-apple, Stramonium jimsonweed, Devil’s trumpet, Jamestown weed, Stramonium, devil’s cucumber, pricklyburr,…
Bermuda grass, also known as Couch Grass or Wiregrass is scientifically called the Cynadon dactylon is a part of the Poaceae family. It is actually a type of weed that originated from Middle East from where it later spread to Bermuda and North America, African Savannah and India. The plant needs sun and grows well in tropical, sub-tropical and the transition zones like in Southern US, South America, Australia, Africa, India etc. It is also named as dog’s tooth grass because dogs search this grasses for its stomach ailments, hence the name. The plant is called Bermuda grass because it…
Ricinus communis is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. It belongs to a monotypic genus, Ricinus, and sub tribe, Ricininae. It is commonly known as Bi ma in china, wooderboom in Denmark, Kiki in Egypt, Karchak in Iran, Aerand in India, Kastorka in Russia and Aderi in Nepal. The plant is native to southeastern Mediterranean Basin, Eastern Africa, and India. It is an erect, rapid-growing tender perennial that is grown in St. Louis as a warm weather annual. In certain parts of the U.S., including Missouri, it has escaped gardens and naturalized in fields, waste areas…
Carissa carandas or Carissa congesta is a species of flowering shrub in the dogbane family, Apocynaceae. It is commonly known as kerenda in Malaya, karaunda in India, Bengal currant or Christ’s thorn in South India, namdaeng in Thailand, caramba, caranda, caraunda and perunkila in the Philippines. The plant is native and common throughout much of India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, java, Pakistan and Myanmar. It grows naturally in the Himalayas at elevations of 300 to 1800 meters, in the Siwalik Hills, the Western Ghats and in Nepal and Afghanistan. In regions with high temperatures, it flourishes well. Few of the common…
Helicteres isora (Indian screw tree), which is commonly known as Marod Phali in India, is a species of small tree or large shrub of the family Sterculiaceae found mostly in Asia including India, South china, Malay Peninsula, Java and Saudi Arabia and also in Australia. The plant is found growing in dry deciduous forests of central and western India. Some of the popular common names of the plants are East-Indian screw tree, Nut-leaved screw tree, Maror phalli, Murud sheng, Mriga Shringa, Marori, Marodphali, Enthani, Kevani, Varkati, Dhiniani, Valumbirikai, Atmorha, Red isora, Spiralbush and Deer’s Horn. It is rich source of…
Madhuca longifolia commonly known as the Butter nut tree is a medium to large sized deciduous tree distributed in northern, central and southern part of peninsular India, Sri Lanka, Burma and Nepal. It is a multipurpose tropical tree mainly cultivated or harvested in the wild for its edible flowers and oil seeds. Few of the popular common names of the plant are Butter Tree, Bassia, Butter-nut tree, Illipe nut, Indian butter tree, Indian illipe butter, Illupai, Ippe, Mabua butter tree, Moatree, Moah tree, Moah wood, Mowra butter tree, Mahua and Moatree. It is a fast-growing tree that grows to approximately…
Peanut Butter fruit, botanically known as Bunchosia argentea or Bunchosia armeniaca, is a tropical fruit tree which is a member of the Malpighiaceae family. The plant is native to the northwestern South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela, Brazil and Peru). Also known as Bunchosia fruit tree, it is the plant that is grown as an ornamental for its vibrant yellow blooms and red fruit which it produces simultaneously. Some of the popular common names of the plants are Bunchosia, Green Plum, Monk’s Plum, Peanut Butter Fruit and Peanut Butter Tree. The name Bunchosia is said to come from an Arabic…
Chaff Flowers or Achyranthes aspera also called Devils Horse Whip is a powerful healing agent that is widely used in ayurvedic medicine in India. It is a very important herbal remedy around the world. The plant is a species of the plant in the amaranthaceae family and is native to tropical regions of Asia as well as India. The plant is also widespread in Baluchistan, Ceylon, Tropical Asia, Africa, Australia and America. Few of the popular common names of the plant are Burweed, Chaff flower, Chaff bur, devil’s horsewhip, Prickly chaff-flower, Rough Chaff-flower, achyranthes, crocus stuff and crokars staff. The…
Tree-of-heaven, commonly referred to as Ailanthus altissima, is a rapidly growing deciduous tree native to a region extending from northern and central China, Taiwan and northern Korea to Australia. The plant belongs to Ailanthus Desf. (ailanthus) genus and Simaroubaceae (Quassia family). Unlike other members of the genus Ailanthus, it is found in temperate climates rather than the tropics. Some of the popular common names of the plants are China-sumac, Chinese tree-of-heaven, Copal tree, Stink tree, Tree-of-heaven, Varnish tree, Chinese sumac, Ailanthus, Skink tree, Varnish tree, Ailanto-da-China, China-sumac, Stinking shumac, stinking sumac and Swingle. Genus name is the Latinized version of…
Kodo millet scientifically knows as Paspalum scrobiculatum, is an annual grain that is grown in primarily in India, but also in the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and in West Africa where it originates. It is grown as a minor crop in most of these areas, with the exception of the Deccan plateau in India where it is grown as a major food source. Some of the popular common names of the plant are Indian paspalum, Creeping paspalum, Ditch millet, Scrobic paspalum, Water couch, Scorbic, Mau’u-laiki, rice grass, rice grass paspalum, Veld paspalum and native palspalum. Kodo is a popular fast…
Artemisia vulgaris, commonly known as Mugwort is actually a perennial medicinal plant in the genus Artemisia and Asteraceae ⁄ Compositae (Aster family). The plant is native to Asia and North America and found throughout the hilly regions of India up to 3600 m in the Western Himalaya, Sikkim and Khasi hills. Some of the popular common names of the plant are Common wormwood, Felon Herb, Mugwort, St. John’s Plant, Wegwood, Wild wormwood, Artemisia, Chinese moxa, chrysanthemum weed, hierba de San Juan, naughty man, Old Man, old uncle Henry, sailor’s tobacco, St. John’s plant, traveler’s herb, green ginger, hiya, motherwort, mugweed…
Botanically, Abutilon Indicum also called Indian mallow in English and Atibala in Hindi is actually an Indian medicinal plant used in Ayurveda. The plant is native to Old World tropics—south Asia and Southeast Asia and sometimes cultivated as an ornamental. It is a small shrub in the Malvaceae family. Some of the popular common names of the plant are Chinese Bellflower, Country Mallow, Indian Abutilon, Indian Lantern Plant, Indian Mallow Abutilon, Monkey Bush, Moon Flower, and Twelve O’clock Flower. It is a medicinal plant with showy golden-yellow flowers and used in Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani system of medicine for preparation…
Grewia asiatica also known as Falsa Fruit, a member of tiliaceae family is a small fruit crop cultivated in warmer season and is known to contain cyanidin 3- glucoside, vitamin C, minerals. The plant is native to southern Asia from Pakistan, India east to Cambodia, and widely grown in other tropical countries. Grewia celtidifolia was firstly considered a mere variety of Phalsa, but is now recognized as a distinct species. Some of the popular common names of the plants are Grewia, Falsa, Indian Phalsa, Parsa Phalsa, Phalsa tree and Phalsa berries. The fruit is easily perishable. Syrup of the fruit…
Black cardamom scientifically known as Amomum subulatum is a very popular spice in India and other Asian cuisines and is derived from the seed pods of the black cardamom plant, which is one of the many species in the Zingiberaceae family. The plant is native to Eastern Himalayas; the main production regions are Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan and Darjeeling District of West Bengal to Central China. Some of the popular common names of the plant are Bengal Cardamom, Fragrant Cardamom, Greater Cardamom, Hill Cardamom, Large Cardamom, Nepal Cardamom, Winged Cardamom and Winged Bengal Cardamom. This perennial flowering plant produces seed pods…
Coffee traces its natural heritage to the genus of plants referred to as Coffea. is really a exotic evergreen plant whose beanlike seeds are usually roasted as well as ground to create a beverage of the identical title. Coffee tree develops a lot more than 30 feet higher, that is engrossed in dark-green, wax-like leaves developing opposite one another in pairs. Coffee cherries develop across the tree’s divisions. It requires almost 12 months for the cherry to fully developed as soon as the flowering of the aromatic, white blossoms. Simply because it develops in the constant cycle, it’s not uncommon…