Cluster Figs (Ficus racemosa), also called Cluster Fig, Cluster Tree, Cluster Fig Tree, Goolar Fig, Country Fig and Redwood Fig, is a medium sized tree native to Indian Subcontinent, Southern China, Southeast Asia, Papua New Guinea to Northern Australia Northern Territory, North of Western Australia and Queensland. It is also introduced to other tropical regions in the South America. Udumbara, Nayodumbara and Phalgu are the three varieties of Cluster figs. The tree bears a subglobose and pyriform fruit of about 2.5-5 cm diameter. The bark has the thickness about 8-10 mm. Plant Cluster fig is an erect, laticiferous, deciduous and…

Actaea racemosa, black cohosh a species of Actaea racemosa L. also called Black snakeroot, Squawroot, Rattlesnake root, Black cohosh, Macrotys, Black snakeroot, Bugwort, Bugbane, Rattleweed, Rattleroot, Rattletop and Richweed, is a flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. It is an herbaceous perennial plant with oval shaped fruits. It grows in cool, well-drained and moist soils. The plant lives for more than two years in the wild. This plant is called Zong zhuang sheng ma in Chinese, Chasse-punaises in French, Traubensilberkerze in German, Cimicifuga in Italian and Cohosh negro in Spanish. History Black cohosh is native to North America. In…

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria Canadensis) also called Indian paint, Sweet slumber, Snakebite, Pauson, Tetterwort, Coot root, Indian plant or Saguinaria, is a perennial herb in the poppy family Papaveraceae. Bloodroot has been ascribed the following herbal properties such as anesthetic, emetic, cathartic, emmenagogue, diuretic, expectorant, sedative, febrifuge, tonic and stimulant. Its native range is Eastern North America. The stem is smooth, round, pale green which is tinged with red. It has a basal leaf which is kidney shaped and eight to twelve white petals. According to the herbal practitioners, Bloodroot possesses various medicinal properties. History The name (species) canadensis mention its Canadian…

Lecythis Pisonis is the nut producing tree native to Amazonia and Brazil that belongs to the Lecythidaceae family. Lecythis Pisonis is called Cream Nut, Paradise Nut, Monkey Pot and Sapucaia Nut. Monkey pot is a large, deciduous tree which grows upto 40-50 cm height. The tree has fissured and greyish to dark brown bark. Leaves are pinkish to red, cream or pale green. The lamina is simple, ovate-elliptic, petiole 5 to 12 mm. The tree bears flowers of six rose to purple petals which is obovate and 3-7 cm across. The flowers turn into woody, globose, oblong or turbinate fruit…

Melinjo (Gnetum gnemon), also known as Daeking Tree, Gnemon Tree, Joint-Fir Spinach, Paddy Oats, Melinjo Nut, Meminjau, Bago, Belinjo and Padi oats is a species of tree in the family Gnetaceae. Gravels varieties, Sticky rice varieties and Varieties of barrel shaped are the common varieties of Melinjo. It is native to Assam, Vietnam, Cambodia, Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Melinjo fruit is well suited to tropical rainforest. The Melinjo tree is widely cultivated for the food purposes. It has ellipsoid fruit about 1-3.5 cm long and half as wide. Leaves are simple and…

Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum) is an herbaceous plant which grows in cooler climates and well-drained soil. Rhubarb is also called Garden rhubarb, Pieplant, Rhubarb, österreichischer Rhabarber, Rabarbaro, Rabarbaro commune, Ruibarbo, Ruibarbo, Wineplant, Rabarber and Daehwang. It has perennial lifespan which grows up to 10-15 years in wild. The plant grows up to 2-4 feet high and wide. The leaves are heart shaped, triangular and dark green of 30 cm as a diameter. The fleshy stems are red, pink or light green which is 12-18 inches long. The stalks are long, thin which resembles celery and grows up to 24 inches height…

Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima) is a coarse textured tree of the Fagaceae family native to China, Korea and Taiwan. It got introduced in 1853 and 1903. Chinese chestnut, Chinese hairy chestnut, châtaignier de Chine, chinesische Kastanie, shinaguri, Rōmaji castaño chino are common names of Chinese chestnut. Chinese chestnut is the rounded and low branched tree that could reach 40-60′ high. Its leaves are alternately arranged, simple, pinnate, ovate-lanceolate, dark green; 10-30 cm long and 4-10 cm wide. The fragrant, showy flowers are pale yellow or cream in color and 4–20 cm long which appears in June. The shiny brown fruits…

Celtis occidentalis, generally known as Hackberry or less commonly as American hackberry, Mississippi hackberry, Nettletree, Northern hackberry, Sugarberry and beaverwood, is a species native to North America. Hackberry is deciduous and perennial tree comprising the flowering plant genus Celtis in the plant family Ulmaceae. Some common varieties of Hackberry are: Green Cascade, Prairie Sentinel, Prairie Pride and Magnifica. Celtis occidentalis grows as a tree from 40-80 feet tall and may live for up to 150-200 years. The bark is grayish brown, corky warts and has ridges. The leaves are 2 ½-4 inches long; 1 ½ inches wide, alternately arranged, oval…

Alocasia macrorrhizos (also called Giant Taro, Ape, Egyptian Lily, Elephant’s Ear, Giant Alocasia and Roasting Coco) is a flowering plant native to tropical Asia. It belongs to Araceae family which consists of 4095 species and 117 genera. It is widely cultivated in the subtropical and tropical regions. It was originated from India, Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka and also spread to Oceania and Asian tropical countries.The plant is found in the humid moist, medium and low elevation valleys where it got naturalized along the stream banks. Today it is available throughout tropics. The leaves and stem are widely used as…

Arracacia xanthorrhiza (commonly called Peruvian Parsnip, Peruvian Carrot and White Carrot) is a caulescent and herbaceous plant native to Andes of the Apiaceae /Umbelliferae family. It is cultivated as a perennial plant. It is sweet and nutty tasting root vegetable with smooth white skin. The young leaves and stems are sometimes consumed as greens or added to salads. This plant performs great in well-drained soils. The plant is a stout, caulescent and herbaceous herb, bearing ovate, dark green to purple, tripinnate leaves each measuring 1-3 cm long and broad. It bears oval shaped purplish to maroon flowers. The edible tuberous…

Couroupita guianensis, commonly known as Cannonball tree, Ayauma tree and Sal tree, is a deciduous tree of the family Lecythidaceae, which bears edible fruit. Cannonball tree is native to the rainforests of South and Central America. The Cannonball tree is found in the tropics such as in Thailand, India, Colombia, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Honduras, United States, Panama, Peru, Ecuador and Venezuela. It is planted as ornamental trees in the parks and highways. The single Cannonball tree bears 150 fruits and 1000 flowers having a strong scent especially in the morning and at night. Bats and bees are responsible for the…

Engkala (Litsea garciae) is a tree that is native to Sarawak and Southwest Sabah regions such as Malaysia, Kalimantan, Indonesia and Philippines, which is classified under the flowering plant family Lauraceae. Engkala additionally refers to the tree’s fruit which is globose or ovate containing a single seed. They have thin pink or red skinned and fleshy body. This plant is usually cultivated for its edible fruit which has a similar flavor of avocado. The tree grows up to 10-25 m high with trunk diameter 40-50 cm. The leaves are arranged alternately, simple, ovate- lanceolate or obovate- lanceolate, glabrous and 25-40…

Hollyhock is the flowering plant in the family Malvaceae. It grows from rich and well-drained soil. This herb is an annual, biennial or perennial. Other common names of Hollyhock include Common Garden Hollyhock, Derives, Common Hollyhock, Garden Mallow and Garden Hollyhock. Hollyhock is an erect, herbaceous, biennial or short lived perennial plant which grows upto 1.5-2 m high. The stems are terete, pubescent and light green. Leaves are orbicular, medium green and 7-15 cm across. The plant is large, showy, pink, mauve, red, white, purple and yellow of funnel shaped and 7-12 cm across. The schizocarp fruit has 15 to…

Mache is an annual plant of the family Valerianaceae. It is mostly grown as leaf vegetable. Other common English names are Corn salad, European corn salad, Fetticus, Lamb’s lettuce, Feldsalat, Common corn salad, Field salad, Nut lettuce, Italian corn salad and Field lettuce. Mache is a small, annual and rosette shaped bunches which grows in a mild and dry or moist soil. The plant grows upto 15 and 30 cm high. It has spoon shaped-round leaves which are 6 inches long. The leaves are dark green which have distinct, sweet and nuttiness taste. The flowers have five bluish-white petals of…

Rubus parviflorus is a deciduous herb native to Western North America from South Alaska as far as New Mexico, California, Chihuahua and San Luis Potosi, producing a cup shaped, red fruit. English common names include Western thimbleberry, Mountain sorrel, Salmonberry and Western thimble raspberry. Though Thimbleberry is found in various habitats, it prefers open and moist sites. It could be found in riparian zones, shrublands, coniferous, deciduous and mixed forests. It is not tolerable to waterlogging. It is mostly found in well-drained upper floodplains or lower floodplains. The plant has white flowers which attracts birds and butterflies. History It extends…

Argemone Mexicana, the Mexican poppy, also known as Mexican poppy, Yellow thistle, Mexican pricklepoppy, Prickly poppy, Amapolas del Campo, Bermuda Thistle, Brahmadanti, Caruancho, Gamboge Thistle and Flowering Thistle, is a robust and erect herb with decorative yellow flower. The plant has sharp prickles on its stem. It grows in a tropical climate. This plant bears flowers on its erect, branched, prickly and pale bluish to green stems. The thistle like leaves are alternately arranged, mottled white and dark green, toothed and 15 cm long. The yellow to pale orange blooms are solitary, glabrous and 2.5-5 cm in diameter. The fruits…

Japanese knotweed is the flowering plant in the Buckwheat family Polygonaceae. Common names include Fleece Flower, Monkeyweed, Himalayan Fleece Vine, Hancock’s Curse, Tiger Stick, Pea Shooters, Sally Rhubarb, Donkey Rhubarb, Mexican Bamboo, Huzhang or Japanese Polygonum. It is extensive cultural, culinary, medicinal and ceremonial herb for the Asian cultures by the centuries. It is found in riparian areas, coastlands, and wet grasslands. Fallopia japonica is a vigorous herbaceous shrub growing to 1-3 m (3-10 ft). The flowers are small, white to green which is 1/6-1/8 inch long. The stems are hollow, smooth, purple to green of 2.5 cm (1”) diameter.…

Self-heal commonly known as Prunella, Wound Root, Brunella, Woundwort, All Heal, Slough Heal, Dragonhead, Blue Curls, Hook-Heal, Hercules, Mountain selfheal, American self-heal, Lanceleaf selfheal, is an herbaceous flowering plant native to Europe, North America and Asia. This plant belongs to the family Lamiaceae /Labiatae. Self-heal has lance shaped leaves which grows upto 0.8-2.8 inches long. It has blue to violet flowers which attracts bees and butterflies. The plant yields flowers from April to June and bears fruit from June to August. History Self-heal was first noticed during Han dynasty in the Chinese medical literature for ailments related to disorganized liver…

New Zealand Yam (Oxalis tuberosa Molina) is an herbaceous plant that belongs to the Oxalidaceae family. It is also called Kao, Oka, Oca, Papa Roja, New Zealand Yam and Quiba Yam. It is cultivated as a perennial plant in the subtropical or tropical climates for its tuberous root which is a great source of phosphorus, carbohydrates and others. The plant is a compact, perennial and tuberous, bearing trifoliate, heart-shaped, clover like, green leaves and tristylous, yellow flowers. The edible tuberous root is claviform to ellipsoid or cylindrical with a waxy, crinkled skin whose color ranges between white, red, yellow and…

Gandaria is a juicy fruit belonging to the genus Bouea, cultivated mostly for its edible fruit. They belong to the family of flowering plant Anacardiaceae. The Gandaria is native to North Sumatra, West Java and Peninsular Malaysia. It is widely cultivated in Sumatra, Ambon, Java, Mauritius, Borneo, Philippines and Thailand. It was exported to Europe by Thailand. Gandaria is also known as Plum Mango and Marian Plum. The flowering and fruiting season differs in Thailand and Indonesia. In Thailand, flowering takes place in November-December and fruiting occurs from April-May. In Indonesia, flowering takes place in June-November and fruiting occurs from…

Mysore raspberry is an edible fruit which is produced by many species in the genus Rubus in the rose family Rosaceae. It is widely cultivated for its edible fruit. The fruit is widely appreciated for its mild sweet aroma and dark red to black color. It is eaten in large quantities either fresh or as pie, jam, tarts and jelly. Around December, the plants starts start to grow pink to rose purple flowers that develop into small dark red to black berries. The stems are hairless. Mysore raspberry is also known from common names such as Ceylon raspberry, Hill raspberry,…

Davidsonia pruriens is a small slender tree native to Australia and Northeastern Queensland. Common names include Davidson plum, Davidsonia Plum, Davidson’s Plum and Queensland Davidson plum. This plant is grown as an ornamental tree for its fruit which is known as Davidson plum. This species bears the sour dark burgundy fruit which is edible and resembles the European plum. The plant of this species reaches up to 12 meters in height which belongs to family Cunoniaceae. The berry has the earthy, tart, intense flavor with sharp acidic taste. Plant The small, slender, ornamental tree can naturally reach upto 6-12 m…

Sweet potato leaves is a tropical to temperate climate plant which is cordate, hairless and heart shaped. The upper and lower surface of leaves is olive green in color. The margins are smooth and hairless long petioles. The leaves of sweet potato are generally consumed in the Islands of Pacific Ocean, Asia and Africa. The young and mature leaves of sweet potato have meaningful health benefits. Click here for more details about sweet potato plant>> Health Benefits of Sweet Potato leaves Along with the tubers of sweet potato, the leaves are also edible. Besides its delicious taste It is flavorful with some bitter taste.…

Solanum mammosum, also known as Apple Of Sodom, Cow’s Udder, Breastberry, Fox Face, Macaw Bush, Love Apple, Mickey Mouse Plant, Macawbush, Nipple Nightshade, Nipple Fruit, Tit Fruit, Pigs Ears, Titty Fruit, Tit Plant, Zombie Fruit, Turkey Berry is a flowering plant in the family Solanaceae. It is native to South America but naturalized in Greater Antilles, Caribbean and Central America. It is widespread in Central America: Belize, Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama and Amazon basin: Northwestern Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Columbia, Surinam and Guyana. It has been introduced elsewhere and is commonly grown in east and south east…

Savoy cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. sabauda L. Capitata Group) is a kind of cabbage which is also known as curly cabbage. Its leaves are bluish to green colored. Savoy cabbage needs well drained soil in a cool climate to grow. It is native to Coastal Southern and Western Europe. It was originated about 1000 BC in Western Asia and Europe. Around 16th century Savoy was sophisticated. It is widely used in Chinese and Polish cuisines. Savoy cabbage is the plant species which also includes the food cultivars such as broccoli, kale, Chinese kale, cauliflower and cabbage. Some common varieties of…

Radicchio (Cichorium intybus) is a kind of leaf chicory , also known as Italian chicory, Rosette chicory, Heading chicory, Leaf chicory, Spring chicory, Italian dandelion, Red endive and Red chicory. It could be found in North America and Asia. Radicchio needs well drained and loose soils to grow. Chioggia, Treviso, Sugarloaf, Verona Red or Rossa di Verona, Early Trevis and Castelfranco are the varieties of Radicchio. It is a perennial plant usually grown as an annual. The plant bears the upright, elongated heads, conical in shape which is 3- 5 inches across. The heads are bronzy green- magenta or wine red…

Prairie Turnips (Psoralea esculenta) is a root vegetable commonly grown on well-drained soils for its starchy tuberous root. Other common names of Prairie turnips are Prairie Turnip, Tipsin, Indian Breadroot, Timpsula, Scurfpea, Teepsenee, Tipsin, Breadroot scurf pea, Breadroot, Pomme blanche, Large Indian breadroot, Pomme de Terre and Tipsinna. Native to prairies or dry woodlands of Central North America, it belongs to the family Fabaceae /Leguminosae and genus Psoralea. It is an herbaceous perennial plant which has alternate, oblong to egg shaped or elongate to oval leaves of 2-6 cm long. Flowers are short, cylindrical, blue or purple in color of…

Banana pepper (also known as Yellow wax pepper, Banana Supreme, Banana chili, Inferno, Biscayne, Aruba, Anaheim, Cubanelle, the AAS winners Carmen, Hungarian Wax, Ooty Chile, Giant Marconi and Gypsy) is a type of chili pepper which is originated from South America. This cultivar produces the fruit in different colors including green, red, bright yellow and orange. Banana pepper is five times milder than Jalapeno pepper. The plant of Banana pepper grows up to 1 to 2 feet high and does well in warm climates with well-drained soil. Fruits are narrow, long, tapering with curve shaped or resembles banana which is…

Serrano pepper is a hot chili pepper cultivar which is mostly used as a spice. Taxonomically it is classified under the species Capsicum annuum. Serrano has the habit growing typically 2 and 3 feet tall, with long, conical shape fruits that are cylindrical having taper rounded end; 1 and 2 inches long and 1/2 inch in diameter. Serrano peppers are hot, often 5 times hotter than Jalapeno pepper on the Scoville scale (5000-20000 units). Flavor is described as sweet, mild and rich. The fruit is harvested when they are green or gets ripened. The color of Serrano peppers varies at…

The Poblano pepper (Capsicum annuum) is a type of chili pepper which was originated from State of Puebla, Mexico. Poblano was derived for the word Puebla which is the valley of South Mexico where the peppers was cultivated firstly. These chilies are about 3 to 6 inches (7.6 to 15.2 cm) long and 2 to 3 in (5.1 to 7.6 cm) wide. Their heat index is between 1,000-2,000 Scoville units. Poblano pepper could be found dried, fresh or powdered. They are dark green when young and turn red as they mature. Poblano pepper is also known as Ancho chiles. Some…