Medicinal plants:ayurvedic herbs and flowers of India

Achiote, Annatto, Arnatto or Jaffra is also called Lipstick tree. It is called Sinduria or Latkan in Hindi, Latka and Latkan in Bengali, Sendri and Shadari in Marathi, Sinduri   in Gujarati, Jolandhar in Assamese, Ureirom in Manipuri, Rangamali and Kunkumada gida in   Kannada, Sappiravirai and   Kongaram in Tamil , Kuppamanjal and Kurangumannyal in Malayalam. In Sanskrit it has a lot of names i.e. Sinduri, Markataharidra, Kampillaka , Sinduri puspi , Trinapuspi, Sinkomala, Raktabeeja, Karachamala . In Oriya we call it Kukuma or Kunkuma . It’s so called because when we break its ripe fruit the seeds if crushed emit a vermillion colored juice. Next to caramel, annatto is the world's most important natural colorant.   Its b otanical name is Bixa orellana . The name orellana is derived from the name of Francisco de Orellana, a Spanish explorer of the 16th century. In English lipstick tree refers to the cosmetic use of the plant. Achiote ...

Plumbago or Chitraka is commonly known as Ceylon Leadwort , Doctorbush, Leadwort, Ceylon Lead Root, White leadwort and Fire plant. It is called Chitra, Chita Chitrak in Hindi, Safed-sitarak in Bengali, Boga Agechita in Assamese, Telhidak in Manipuri, Koduveli , Vellakkoduveli in Malayalam , chittiramoolam Karimai   in Tamil, Chitramulika in Kannada. In Sanskrit it has several names i.e. Chitraka, Agni, Dahana , Vyalah, Pathinah, Darunah, Agnikah, Jyotiskah, Vallari, Vahni, Pali, Pathi, Katu, Sikhi,, Dvipi, Chitrabhanu, Pavakah, Chitrakah, Agnimali, Sardula, Citrapali, Krusanu etc. In Oriya we call it Chitamula . Its Botanical name is Plumbago zeylanica .   Plumbago is a perennial shrub that reaches about 6 feet in height with green branches, stems somewhat woody. Leaves are alternate, ovate or oblong, flowers are white, in axillary and terminal elongated spikes. They are bisexual. The Calyx is densely covered with stalked, sticky glands. Roots are light yellow...

Lagerstroemia speciosa is a larger form of the more commonly grown Lagerstroemia indica (Crepe myrtle).It has got its name Crepe myrtle because of the flowers which look as if made from frilly and delicate crepe paper. It is also called Cuddle Tree, Banabá and also Pride of India, Queen’s Flower, Queen Crepe Myrtle, and Giant Crepe myrtle. It is called Jarul and Arjuna in Hindi, Bandhara and Taman in Marathi, Ajhar in Assamese, Jarol in Manipuri, Kadalai and Pumaruttu in Tamil , Challdhole-dasa, Holematti, Nirbendeka in Kannada, Nirventeak in Malayalam, Varagogu in Telugu and Syandana, Tinisa and  Kramuka I n Sanskrit. In Oriya we call it patali. Its Botanical name is Lagerstroemia speciosa. It’s a genus of around 50 species of evergreen trees and shrubs native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. This tropical flowering tree is known for its colorful and long-lasting flowers. it is a large , erect, bulky tree with rigidly twiggy, broom-lik...

Bauhinia is a genus of more than 200 species of flowers. Red bauhinia is also called Butterfly tree, Pink butterfly tree, Purple bauhinia, Purple butterfly tree, Purple orchid tree. It is called Kanchanar and Kaniar in Hindi, Rakta chandan in Marathi, Koiral in Bengali, Og-yok in Assamese, Mandaram, Chuvanna mandram, Kongu , Malayakatti and Kongumandaram in Malayalam, Nilattiruvatti in Tamil, Devakanchan in Kannada. In Oriya we call it Kanchan . It’s Botanical name is Bauhinia variegata Linn. (Bauhinia purpuria Linn.)   This large sized deciduous tree grows up to 10-12 meters in height. Leaves compound with 2 leaflets are deeply notched at the tip. The flowers are followed by 12-inch-long, slender, brown, flat seedpods containing 5-10 seeds which persist on the tree throughout the winter. The flowers are found in many variants. The five-petaled flowers are 7.5-12.5 cm diameter, generally in shades of red, pink, purple, orange, or yellow, and are often fragrant. The...

Paper flower or Bougainvillea is one of the most popular flowers planted in office premises, parks and housees. It’s called Booganbel inHindi and Marathi, Cherei in Manipuri, Baganbilas in Bengali, Kathigala Puvvu in Telugu. In my area we call it kagaz phool. Its Botanical name is Bougainvillea glabra. It has got its name after a French explorer named Louis de Bougainvillea. Bougainvillea is a popular woody shrub. It grows to the height of 10 -15 feet. It’s good for hedge. It’s a climber shrub having very rich foliage and sharp thick thorns on its slender branches. Its colour range is white, pink, red and orange yellow which bloom all year. The leaves are ovate, rich green or variegated, colourful bracts surrounding small tubular flowers. The woody trunk tends to be twisted. This time there was abundant flowers in my front porch. The scene was tempting for any photo lover and nature lover. I took a lot of snaps. The tree in full bloom is really a feast of colour.  ...

The Moonbeam flower is also known as Wax Flower and Crape jasmine in English. It’s called Chandni in Hindi Nandiyavattai in Tamil, Nandivardhana in Telugu. We call it Tagara in Oriya. The glossy bright green leaves and white, waxy flowers of the plant are quite beautiful. The waxy blossoms are white five-petaled pinwheels that bloom in small clusters on the stem tips. A shrub very common in India it grows to a height of 6 ft. It is widely seen in almost all Indian gardens. They bloom in spring but flowers appear almost throughout the year. In Botanical nomenclature it is known as Ervatamia coronaria(Tabernaemontana coronaria).

It is also called Sadabahar in Hindi, Shavam Naari in Malayalam, Sadaphuli in Marathi and so sweetly called Nayantara in Bengali. In my mother tongue Oriya we call it Sadabihari or Sadabasant means that eternal bloom or always in bloom or eternal spring. Beautiful name! Its Botanical name is Catharanthus roseus. This is one flower which can be found all over India. The flower is hypotensive, sedative and is used in case of nosebleed, bleeding gums, mouth ulcers and sore throats. It is also used internally for loss of memory, hypertension, cystitis, gastritis and enteritis. White periwinkle

Lantana is also known as Spanish Flag or West Indian Lantana, Rainbow flower, Red (Yellow, Wild) Sage is a species of flowering plant in the verbena family. Lantana is called Samballei , Nongballei in Manipuri , Raimuniya in Hindi, Unnichedi and Arippu in Tamil , Tantani and Ghaneri in Marathi, Nata hu gida in Kannada, Pulikampa in Telugu,  Chaturangi, Vanachhedi in Sanskrit   . It has a beautiful name in Odia; Naga-airi which means ‘enemy of the serpent’.   Its Botanical name is Lantana camara. Common lantana is a hairy, spiny, pungent smelling tropical shrub which grows to 6 ft high and may spread to 8 ft in width with some varieties able to climb on support like a vine. The leaves are ovate, acuminate, toothed and 2-5 in long by 1-2 in wide. Stems and leaves are covered with rough hairs and emit an unpleasant scent when crushed. The small flowers are held in clusters (called umbels) that are typically 1-2 in across. The flowers come in many colours l...

Four O'clock, Beauty-of-the-night, Marvel of Peru is one of the most delicate flowers which  bloom in the night. It is called Gulabbas or Gulbakshi in Hindi, Mukak lei in Manipuri , Gulabas in Marathi, Anthimalari in Malayalam, Chandramalli inTelugu, Gulamaji in  Kannada, Sandhya malati in Bengali , in Sanskrit it is called Krishnakali . It's called Rangani  in Oriya. Its Botanical name is Mirabilis jalapa.    Four o'clock flowers are trumpet shaped, about an inch across at the end and about two inches  long. They open in the evening and wilt the next morning. Four o'clocks are leafy, shrublike,  multi-branched perennials which bloom throughout summer. The plants are erect and spreading, 2-3 ft tall and just as wide. The fragrant flowers have a wide variety of colours like  red, magenta, pink, yellow or white, sometimes with two or multiple colors on the same plant.  Like Petunia, bi-color flowers are also seen. Rangani-Mirab...

Butterfly ginger lily is also known as White Ginger Lily, Garland Flower. Its Botanical name is Hedychium coronarium. It is called Dolan champa in Hindi, Takhellei angouba in Manipuri, Sontaka in Marathi , Pakhila phul in Assamese , Suruli Sugandhi in Kannada , Chantikantam and Chantiramullikai in Tamil, Kichchiligadda in Telugu. In my mother tongue Oriya we call it Durlava Champa or Dulei champa . Butterfly ginger lily is a beautiful and fragrant flower with a lot of color variations. Its flowering period is from July to October. It is a robust, attractive plant that reachs up to 6 feet in containers. From midsummer and all through autumn the stalks are topped with 6-12 in long clusters of wonderfully fragrant white flowers that look like butterflies. The shape is quite attractive. It really looks like a white butterfly. The plants are very robust and quickly grow out of the container. They need to be divided every year. Cut out and throw away old stems after...