Watermelon — Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum & Nakai, family Cucurbitaceae) refers to both fruit and plant of a vine-like (climber and trailer) herb originally from southern Africa and one of the most common types of melon. This flowering plant produces a special type of fruit known by botanists as a pepo, which has a thick rind (exocarp) and fleshy …

Taro — Taro (from Tahitian or other Polynesian languages), more rarely kalo (from Hawaiian), is a tropical plant grown primarily as a vegetable food for its edible corm, and secondarily as a leaf vegetable. It is believed to be one of the earliest cultivated plants. Taro is closely related to Xanthosoma and Caladium, plants commonly grown as ornamentals, and like …

Mushroom — A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source. The standard for the name “mushroom” is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus, hence the word mushroom is most often applied to fungi (Basidiomycota, Agaricomycetes) that have a stem (stipe), a cap (pileus), and gills …

Foxglove — Digitalis is a genus of about 20 species of herbaceous perennials, shrubs, and biennials that was traditionally placed in the figwort family Scrophulariaceae. Due to new genetic research, it has now been placed in the much enlarged family Plantaginaceae. The genus is native to Europe, western and central Asia, and northwestern Africa. The members of this genus are …

Evening Primrose — Oenothera is a genus of about 125 species of annual, biennial and perennial herbaceous flowering plants, native to North and South America. It is the type genus of the family Onagraceae. Common names include evening primrose, suncups, and sundrops. The species vary in size from small alpine plants 10 cm tall (e.g. O. acaulis from Chile), to …

Caraway — Caraway or Persian cumin (Carum carvi) is a biennial plant in the family Apiaceae, native to Europe and western Asia. The plant is similar in appearance to a carrot plant, with finely divided, feathery leaves with thread-like divisions, growing on 20-30 cm stems. The main flower stem is 40-60 cm tall, with small white or pink flowers in …

Amaranth — Amaranthus, collectively known as amaranth or pigweed, is a cosmopolitan genus of herbs. Approximately 60 species are presently recognised, with inflorescences and foliage ranging from purple and red to gold. Members of this genus share many characteristics and uses with members of the closely related genus Celosia. Although several species are often considered weeds, people around the world …

Valeriana Wallichii (Indian Valerian, Valerian Jatamansi, Taggar) — Family Name: Valerianaceae Botanical Name: Valeriana Wallichii Common Name: Indian Valerian, Valerian, Valerian Jatamansi, Taggar Part Used: Roots Habitat: Temperate zone of North western Himalayas upto an altitude of 3000 m. Uses: It is Anti Spasmodic, Stimulant, Calmative and Stomachic. It is useful in diseases of eye blood, livers. It is used …

Usefulness of Ginger — Ginger is a tropical plant which is mostly flourished in Southern Asia, Jamaica and Nigeria. It is commonly used in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for over two thousand years to treat number of health related problems, like stomach disorder, vomiting, diarrhea, motion sickness and rheumatism. Ginger is anti oxidant in nature. In Chinese medicine, half of …

Tinospora Cordifolia (Gulanshe Tinospara, Gulancha Tinospara, Tinospara, Giloy) — Family Name: Menispermaceae Botanical Name: Tinospora Cordifolia Common Name: Gulanshe Tinospara, Gulancha Tinospara, Tinospara, Giloy Part Used: Stem Habitat: North And South India. Uses: It is an Antiperiodic, Antipyretic, Alterative, Diuretic, Anti-inflammatory. It is a contituent of several compound preparations. It is used in fever, urinary disorders, dyspepsia, general debility and …