| Marsileaceae | Marsilea maheshwari | Waterclover | | ''Marsilea maheshwari'' is a fern closely related to ''M. minuta''. In fact, it may be an environmentally induced phenotypic variety of ''M. minuta''. Other phenotypes may include species ''M. brachycarpa'', ''M. brachypus'' and ''M. gracilenta'' (Cook) |
| Marsileaceae | Marsilea minuta | Dwarf waterclover, Small waterclover | चौपतिरा Chaupatira | ''Marsilea minuta'' is a highly plastic and variable pteridophyte. Other species, namely, ''M. brachycarpa'', ''M. brachypus'', ''M. gracilenta'' and ''M. maheshwari'' also fall within the range of variation and probably are different environmentally induced phenotypes (Cook). All Marsilea species are found in Africa and in India highlighting the fact that India was once upon a time connected to Madagascar. |
| Pedaliaceae | Martynia annua | Devil's Claws, Tiger's Claw | उलट-कांटा Ulat-kanta, बाघनख Baghnakh | |
| Clusiaceae | Mesua ferrea | Cobra saffron, Ceylon ironwood, Indian rose chestnut | नाग चम्पा Nag champa, नागकेसर Nagkesar | This species is the national tree of Sri Lanka. The geography of Sri Lanka is quite similar to the South western regions of India. In fact, part of the Western Ghat seems to extend to Sri Lanka. ''Mesua ferrea'' is used in Indian cooking, as a medicine, for its fragrance and in the industry for its wood. Some people have noted the psychedelic effects of the fragrance of Nag Champa. The incense sticks made from the flowers of this plant are popular worldwide for their intense fragrance. |
| Polypodiaceae | Microsorum pteropus | Java fern | | ''Microsorum pteropus'' is an aquatic fern and can grow completely underwater. It is mostly epiphytic and is extensively found in tropical Asia. As with many aquatic ferns, this plant is also used as an ornamental plant in aquariums. |
| Sapotaceae | Mimusops elengi | Spanish cherry, Bullet wood | बकुल Bakul, मौलसरी Maulsari | The tree is used in rest of the world for its hard wood. In India, it is also used to make garlands from its fragrant flowers. It finds use in many Ayurvedic products. especially those for oral health. Lord Krishna is said to have played his flute under ''Bakul'' trees attracting young women. The tree is said to flower when sprinkled with nectar from the mouths of beautiful women. (Source: Wikipedia, Flowers of India) |
| Rutaceae | Murraya exotica | Chinese box, Orange Jasmine | Kamini कामिनी | This species is used sometimes as an ornamental plant in India and has a medicinal use. ''Murraya exotica'' is related to ''Murraya koenigii'' or Curry plant, which is used as a spice in Indian foods. ''M. exotica'' leaves, on the other hand, have a citrus flavor. |
| Rutaceae | Murraya koenigii | Curry tree | कधिपत्ता | Murraya koenigii is popularly known as the 'curry tree'. Leaves of this tree are often used to provide flavor to many indian curries originating in western and southern parts of India. |
| Nelumbonaceae | Nelumbo nucifera | Water Lily, Lotus, Sacred Lotus, East Indian Lotus | कमल Kamal | The Indian Lotus, also known as the Sacred Lotus, is a culturally significant plant in many Asian cultures in general and Indian culture in particular. It is a plant native to the Indian subcontinent, but now is found as an ornamental plant worldwide. The Lotus is considered a symbol of devotion and purity. It is the seat of Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Saraswati, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma. The flowers of Lotus have several medicinal properties as per Ayurveda. '''Lotus is also the national flower of India.''' |
| Nymphaeaceae | Nymphaea nouchali | Blue water lily, Red and blue water lily', Blue star water lily, Star lotus | Neelkamal नीलकमल | '''''Nymphaea nouchali''''', commonly known as the '''Red and blue water lily''', '''Blue star water lily''', '''Star lotus''', or by its synonym '''''Nymphaea stellata''''', is a water lily of genus ''Nymphaea''. This aquatic plant is native to the Indian Subcontinent. It was spread to other countries already in ancient times and has been long valued as a garden flower in Thailand and Myanmar to decorate ponds and gardens. This plant has medicinal significance in Ayurveda too. It is considered a holy flower in Buddhism. (Source:Wikipedia) |
| Lamiaceae | Ocimum tenuiflorum | Holy Basil, Indian Basil | तुलसी Tulsi | ''Ocimum tenuiflorum'' or Tulsi is one of the most sacred plants in Hinduism. The plant has several medicinal properties. It is found throughout India. |
| Acanthaceae | Phlogacanthus curviflorus | Wild Nongmangkha | NA | Wild Nongmangkha is found in North East India. It has bright red flowers borne as spikes. Leaves and flowers have medicinal properties and are used in native folk medicine. It can be used as an ornamental plant. |
| Acanthaceae | Phlogacanthus thyrsiformis | | | |
| Phyllanthaceae | Phyllanthus emblica | Indian Gooseberry, Amla | आमला Amla | ''Phyllanthus emblica'' or Indian Gooseberry is a species commonly known for its fruit called Amla. The fruit has one of the highest concentrations of Vitamin C (160 times more than apple) and thus is reputed as a strong antioxidant. Amla finds uses in many medicinal and cosmetic products, especially those for hair such as hair oils and tonics. Amla fruit is used in Indian cooking mainly as pickles or as mouth-freshners. It is also a constituent of the popular '''Dabur Chawanprash'''. |
| Piperaceae | Piper longum | Long Pepper | पिपली Pipli | |
| Myrtaceae | Psidium guajava | Guava | अमृत Amrut, लाल-सुफ्रियम Lal-sufrium (red) | |
| Apocynaceae | Rauwolfia serpentina | Indian snakeroot, Serpentine wood | सर्पगंधा Sarpagandha | ''Rauvolfia serpentina'' or snakewood is a plant native to India. The genus is also called ''Rauwolfia'', but the name ''Rauvolfia'' is the one accepted by the Species 2000 project, an official international species nomenclature agency. ''Rauvolfia serpentina'' is a popular folk medicine for diabetes and high blood pressure. It also has tranquilizing properties and is used as an antipsychotic drug, for curing schizophrenia and against snakebites. |
| Santalaceae | Santalum album | Indian Sandalwood, White Sandalwood | चन्दन Chandan | Sandalwood is an economically important plant and has been cultivated for several centuries for the fragrance of its oil. Due to extensive and sometimes, illegal cutting of native Sandalwood trees, this species has become vulnerable to extinction. ''S. album'' is native to South/South-East Asia, possibly Indonesia. Another species ''Santalum spicatum'' is native to Australia. |
| Fabaceae | Saraca indica | Ashoka | अशोक Ashok | ''Saraca indica'' or the Ashoka tree is an important plant from a religious and cultural point of view in India. The tree has beautiful red flowers and a dense foliage which makes it seem stately to its devotees. The tree is a symbol of fertility in Indian culture and has been recently shown to provide relief to women during menstruation. The tree is revered in Hinduism and Buddhism and is frequently found in royal palace grounds or near temples. |
| Pedaliaceae | Sesamum indicum | Sesame | Gingli, Til | |
| Solanaceae | Solanum virginianum | Thorny Nightshade, Yellow Berried Nightshade, Thai eggplant | | |
| Myrtaceae | Syzygium aromaticum | Clove | लवंग Lavang | ''Syzygium aromaticum'' is the plant from which Cloves are derived. Cloves are the aromatic dried flower buds. This species is native to Indonesia and used as a spice in cuisines all over the world. Cloves are now harvested primarily in Indonesia, Madagascar, Zanzibar, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka; they are also grown in India under the name Lavang. (Source:Wikipedia) |
| Myrtaceae | Syzygium cumini | Java plum, Jamun | जामुन Jamun | Jambul (''Syzygium cumini'') is an evergreen tropical tree in the flowering plant family ''Myrtaceae'', native to Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Indonesia. The word 'Jambul' is sometimes mistranslated as 'Blackberry', which is a different fruit. Historically, the tree was exclusive to the Indian Sub-continent, and so widespread across the region that one of the old names of India (or the Indian region) is Jambu-Dvipa (literally: the island of jambul fruit). It is now also grown in other areas of southern and southeastern Asia including the Philippines, Myanmar, south of Iran and Afghanistan. |
| Combretaceae | Terminalia chebula | Chebulic Myrobalan, Myrobalan | हर्रा Harra, हरड़ Harad | ''Terminalia chebula'' is a tree native to North East India and Indo-Burma region. The tree yields a fruit which has an abrasive seed but a fleshy pulp. The plant is highly regarded in Ayurvedic and Tibetan medicine. The seed, called "Harda" or Kala Namak in Hindi, is also used in Indian cooking. (Source:Wikipedia) |
| Menispermaceae | Tinospora cordifolia | Gulbel, Indian Tinospora | गिलोय Giloy, गुलांचा Gulancha, गुलबेल Gulbel | The plant is indigenous to the Indian subcontinent and has been used in Ayurveda for several centuries as a hepato-protectant (liver protection). Recent research has demonstrated that a combination of T. cordifolia extract and turmeric extract is effective in preventing the hepatotoxicity which is otherwise produced as a side effect of conventional pharmaceutical treatments for tuberculosis using drugs such as isoniazid and rifampicin. |
| Asparagaceae | Urginea indica | indian squill | jangli-piyaz | plants of this species are found globally from Tropical Africa to Myanmar. In India, it is found throughout the plains and in the dry hills of the lower Himalayas . It uses as medicine dats back to sixth century before Christ, e.g; Oxymel of Squill, used for coughs, was invented by Pythagoras. |
| Solanaceae | Withania somnifera | Indian Ginseng, Winter cherry | अश्वगंधा Ashwagandha | |
| Zingiberaceae | Zingiber capitatum | Wild Ginger | जंगली अदरक Jangali adrak | |
| Zingiberaceae | Zingiber chrysanthum | Golden flowered ginger | | |
| Zingiberaceae | Zingiber officinale | Garden ginger | अदरक Adrak | ''Zingiber officinale'' or Ginger is a plant native to India. India is the largest producer of ginger, accounting for 30% of the world production. It is closely related to Turmeric and Cardamom. Ginger is widely used in India and around the world in cooking and for medicinal purposes. |
| Zingiberaceae | Zingiber rubens | Bengal Ginger | | ''Zingiber rubens'' is a ''Zingiber'' species native to India. It is native to North East India and thus is a sub-Himalayan species. The flowers are bright red in color. The seed capsules are used in India as a spice. (Source: Flowers of India) |
