Medicinal plants:ayurvedic herbs and flowers of India

Names of Datura in different languages   Datura or Hindu Datura is also known as thorn weed, thorn-apple, devil s-apple, apple-of-peru, jamestown weed or jimson weed, mad apple, stinkweed etc.   -It is called Sadahdhatura, Dhaturo in Hindi - Dhattura in Bengali, Gujrati and Marathi - Sagol hidak in Manipuri - Ummetta, Dutthuramu, Tella Vumetta, Tellaoomatie Etc. in Telugu - Vellum Mattai, Cokkitakam, Emanamam,  Kanakariyam, Okaticceti, Oomathu, Simaiyumattai,    Ummattangani   in Tamil - Unmatta, Matulam, Hummatu, Ummam and Malayalam - Unmatta, Bilidatthoora, Kariummatti, Madaguniki etc. in Kannada - In Sanskrit it is called Dhustura,  Kanakvyah, Shivapriya, Devika, Ghantapushpa, Harava, Kahalapushpa, Kantaphala, Kharadushana, Matula, Shivashekhara, Shyama etc. - Gozmasal And Tatoola in Pesrian. - Qunain, Tukhm Dhatura Safaid in Urdu.  -We call it Dudura in Oriya.   The Botanical name is Datura stramoni...

Fairy Lily   or   White Rain Lily is also known as August rain lily, White zephyr lily, Peruvian swamp-lily, Zephyr flower, Autumn zephyr lily ,Autumn Rain-Lily, Flower-Of-The-Western-Wind, , Zephyr Lily and so sweetly called Rain flower . Rainlily has nearly 70 species known in botanical nomenclature as Zephyranthes and  Habranthus . All of them are flowering bulbs that share common names of rainlily, fairy lily, rainflower and zephyrlily. These flowers are commonly called rain lilies because they often bloom after it rains. Rain lily flowers in spring, summer or fall, depending on species and garden conditions but especially after a shower. But most of these plants are spring or summer flowering. Each six-petalled, funnel-shaped flower is found atop a stem that ranges in height from 2 inches to more than 12 inches. This white   cultivar   of a flower is usually found in pink and also yellow forms. Leaves are a deep glossy green and measure 3   mm ...

Spanish Cherry is also known as Bullet-wood Tree and Indian Medaller. It is a very popular and fragrant flower and in India in every language it has more than one name. It is called Bakul, Bolsari,Tendu, Maulsari in Hindi, Kirakuli in Urdu, Bohl and Bokul in Bengali, Bakuli in Marathi, Barsoli in Gujrati, Bakulam , Elangi, Makuram in Malayalam, Kalhale, Kesara, Mugule, Pagademara, Ranjal, Pokkalathu in Kannada, Kesara, Parijatamu, Nemmi, Pogada in Telugu, Alagu, Ilanci, Kesaram, Magilam in Tamil. There are a lot of names given to this fragrant beauty in Sanskrit like Sinhakeshara, Anangaka, Bakulah, Chirapushpa, Dhanvi, Dohala, Kantha, Gudhapushpaka, Karuka, Keshara, Madhugandha, Madhupanjara, Madhupushpa, Mukula . In Oriya we call it Baula Phula . Its Botanical Name is Mimusops Elengi. This is a large glabrous evergreen tree with 50 feet in height & 1 meter circumference. The bark is thick and dark brownish or greyish black in colour. The wood inside the bark is...

Kadam or kadamb is also known as burr flower tree and wild cinchona. In Hindi it is called Kadamba . It is called Vellaikkatampu in Tamil, Rudrakskamba and kadambakamu in Telugu, Katambu and Attu tekku in Malayalam, Kaduavalatige in Kannada and kadam in Bengali and Assamese. It has numerous names in Sanskrit like Vrattapushpa , Nipa, Lalanapriya, Kadambari, Madadhya, Sindhupushpa, Karnapurak, Kadamba, Halipriya, Sisupala, Gandhavatpushpa, Pravrishenya, Manonnati, Kutsitanga, Pulaki, Kaadambarya, Girikadambaka, Raajakadamba, Meghaagamapriya.   In Oriya we call it Kadamba too. Its botanical name is Neolamarckia cadamba (Anthocephalus indicus). Kadamb is a deciduous tree which grows throughout India, especially at low levels and in wet places. It grows rapidly in first 6-8 year and produces golden ball of flowers. It is seen widely in the Western Ghats, in Plains and in wet places everywhere. It has a straight stem about 20 m high and up to 2 m girth with a beau...

Peacock Flower or Red Bird of Paradise is also known as Mexican Bird of Paradise, Pride of Barbados, Dwarf Poinciana, Barbados Flower-fence, and Paradise Poinciana. This glorious and beautiful tropical flower is called Sidhakya in Sanskrit, Guletura in Hindi, Sankasur in Marathi, Radhachura and Krishnachura in Bengali, Ratnagandhi in Telugu, Mayirkonrai in Tamil, Kenjige in Kannada, Settimandaram and Rajamalli in Malayalam. In Oriya we call it in a totally separate name, because in Oriya Krishnachura is a bigger variety and the tree is also equally huge which is popularly known in Hindi as Gulmohar . This dwarf variety is called Godibana in Oriya. In my village and locality we call it paikra flower. Its botanical name is Caesalpinia pulcherrima . Its exact origin is unknown due to its widespread cultivation. But it’s one of the most popular trees in tropical countries. In India it is found in almost all parts and is highly prized and planted because of its ornament...

Now it is rainy season here in my area (Orissa). These flowers have very sweet and mild fragrance. They bloom in rain. They bloom just in the evening like Four o'Clock flowers. Our front yard pavement sides are filled with their fragrance in the evening. Can anyone tell its name?                                           Ok! Let me tell you all about this pristine beauty. It's white Crinum Lily. Crinum Lily is also known as Poison Lily, Seashore Lily, Grand crinum lily, Poison Bulb, Giant Crinum Lily, Spider Lily. In Hindi it is called Nagadamini and Sudarsana . In Oriya we call it just Lily. My father with a couple of Crinum Lily in our premises I asked my father who is quite a living repository of knowledge of herbs and plants and quite a good gardener. He told me that it is banua Lily means wild lily. Its botanical name is Crinum asiaticum. Crinum ...

Globe Amaranth is also known as Gomphrena and Bachelor’s buttons. It is called  Gul-e-makhmal  in Hindi and Urdu,  Chengkruk  in Manipuri,  Vadamalli  in Malayalam. In Oriya we call it  Godi  Manika.  Its Botanical name is  Gomphrena globosa.          Globe Amaranth is a tropical annual flower with small, pinecone-shaped, delicate flowers. It is an all-time flower-gardening favourite. It is one of the most useful blossoms around.  It seems to have it all, it thrives in all conditions, it blooms nearly nonstop, great for cutting and drying, and it attracts butterflies.   It can grow up to two feet with newer, smaller varieties that has a bushy appearance. The branched stems are erect and stiff. The leaves are opposite, oblong, 4-6 in long, and woolly-white when young, becoming sparsely white-hairy as they age. Flowers are globular in shape, but actually c...

Champak or Golden Champa is called Atigandhaka, Bhringmohi, Champaka , Hemanga, Hemapuspaka, Deepapushpa in Sanskrit, Champa in Hindi and Bengali, Amariyam in Tamil, Kendasampige in Kannada, Chembakam in Malayalam, Campangi in Telugu and Sonchampa in Marathi. In Oriya we call it Champa too. Its Botanical Name is ( Magnolia) Michelia champaca . It’s a tall, evergreen tree, usually up to 30 m high. Leaves are ovate to lanceolate, coriaceous. The flowers are yellow or orange, wonderfully fragrant, solitary; Fruits are 5-10 cm long, ripe capsules ovoid or ellipsoid, with woody valves. Champak tree bears large numbers of small cream yellow and orange yellow blooms over a long period. The trees bloom once during the monsoon and again in spring. When fully in bloom, the trees are covered with thousands of golden yellow flowers which reigns the air all around with a powerful and diffusive fragrance. It’s a member of the   magnolia   family and a native of the tempera...

Names of Yellow Oleander in different languages Yellow oleander is also known as Mexican oleander, Cook tree, Milk Bush Tree, Dicky plant, Be-still tree, Exile tree, Lucky nut etc. - It is called Peeli kaner, Kaneil, Zard kunel in Hindi - Kolkaphul, Haldi karobi, China karobi in Bengali - Sammulhimar, Diffuli in Assamese - Utonglei in Manipuri - Bitti, Pilvalakenhera, Kanher in Marathi - Pila-kanera in Gujrati - Kanir in Punjabi - Pachaiyalari, Alari, Tiruvachippu, Manjataleri, Ponnarali in Tamil - Manja areli, Pachcha areli in Malayalam - Pachaganeru, Erra Ganneru, Jannerat in Telugu - Kadukasi, Kanagilu, Kharjaher, Kanogalu in Kannada - In Sanskrit it is called Ashvaghna, Ashvamaraka, Ashvantaka, Hayamaara, Divyapushpa, Haripriya, Ravipriya, Shatakunda, Karavira, Viraka, Gauripushpa, Siddhapushpa etc. - We call it Kaniar in my mother tongue Oriya. The Botanical name is Cascabela thevetia (L.) (Syn.Thevetia peruviana) (Apocyanaceae family) The Plant structure of   Ca...

Basil, Sweet basil or Holy basil in India is the most sacred plant in every Hindu household. Every traditional Indian home has at least one plant of Holy basil growing in their yard, which they use for both medicinal as well as religious purposes. It is called Ramtulasi in Hindi, Sabje in Gujarati, Sabza in Marathi, Tirunittru in Tamil, Khubkalam  in Bengali, Kattu tulasi in Malayalam. In Oriya we call it Tulasi too.Its Botanical name is Ocimum basilicum . Tulsi has been revered in India for over five thousand years, as a healing balm for body, mind and spirit, and is known to bestow an amazing and diverse healing properties resulting in a number of health benefits. Basically a tropical herb, Holy basil has a strong pungent taste and a distinctive sweet aroma that makes it a favourite for various culinary preparations as well. Sweet basil, with its wonderful aroma and flavour, is one of the most popular and widely grown herbs in the world. Basil is an annual herb to 2-3...