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A History of Agriculture in India v1.c44: Appendix IV. Cultivated Plants in India, and Their Places of Origin

A History of Agriculture in India v1.c44

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Appendix IV. Cultivated Plants in India, and Their Places of Origin

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Cultivated plants in India belong to two categories, viz. indigenous, and those introduced from other countries, viz. Western Asia, Africa, China, Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands, the New World and Europe.

I. Select List of Indigenous Cultivated Plants of India

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These are the plants which had their origin in India and have been cultivated over a long period of time. Only a select list is given below, and it is by no means exhaustive.

Cereals

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*Oryza sativa* Linn., Rice, *Dhan*, *Chaval* *Paspalum scrobiculatum* Linn., Kodo-millet, *Kodon* *Panicum miliare* Lam., Little-millet, *Kutki* (some consider it to be *P. sumatrense* Roth. & Schutt.) *Digitaria cruciata* (Nees) A. Camus, *Raishan*. *Coix lacryma-jobi* Linn., Job's Tears, *Gurlu*

Pulses

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*Cajanus cajan* (Linn.) Millsp., Pigeonpea, *Arhar* *Dolichos biflorus* Linn., Horse-gram, *Kulthi* *Vigna mungo* (Linn.) Hepper (syn. *Phaseolus mungo* Linn.), Blackgram, *Urd* *V. radiata* (Linn.) Wilczek (syn. *Phaseolus aureus* Roxb.), Greengram, *Moong*

Root Crops

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*Alocasia macrorrhiza* Schott, Giant Taro, *Boromon Kachhu* *Colocasia esculenta* (Linn.) Schott, Taro, *Kachalu*, *Arvi* *Dioscorea alata* Linn., Greater Yam, *Khamalu* *Amorphophallus campanulatus* (Roxb.) Blume ex Dcne, Elephant-foot Yam, *Zamin-kand* *Zingiber officinale* Rosc., Ginger, *Adrak*

Oilseeds

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*Brassica juncea* (Linn.) Czern. & Coss. Indian mustard, *Sarson*, *Rai*

Fruits

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*Artocarpus heterophyllus* Lam., Jack-fruit, *Kathal* *Borassus flabellifer* Linn., Palmyra-palm, *Tari* *Syzygium cuminii* (Linn.) Skeels, Jambolana, *Jamun* *Feronia limonia* (Linn.) Swingle, Elephant-apple, Wood-apple, *Kapittha* *Mangifera indica* Linn., Mango, *Am* *Musa paradisiaca* Linn., and *M. balbisiana* Colla, Plantain, Banana, *Kela* *Emblica officinalis* Gaertn., Emblic, *Amla* *Phoenix sylvestris* (Linn.) Roxb., Date-palm, *Khajur* *Tamarindus indica* Linn., Tamarind, *Imli* (some consider it to be indigenous to tropical Africa) *Ziziphus* (sphalmate *Zizyphus*) *nummularia* (Burm. f.) Wight & Arn., Wild Jujube, *Ber*

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*Amaranthus* spp. *Cucumis sativus* Linn., Cucumber, *Khira* *Solanum melongena* Linn., Brinjal, Eggplant, *Baingan* *Momordica charantia* Linn., Bitter-gourd, *Karela* *Raphanus caudatus* Linn., Rat-tail Radish, Sengri, Newari *Muli* *Lagenaria siceraria* (Mol.) Standl., Bottle-gourd, *Ghia*, *Kaddu*, *Lauki* *Luffa acutangula* (Linn.) Roxb., Ridged-gourd, *Jhinga*, Kali Torai *Trichosanthes anguina* Linn., Snake-gourd, *Chachinda* *Basella rubra* Linn., Indian Spinach, *Poi*

Spices

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*Curcuma domestica* Valet. (syn. *Curcuma longa* Linn.), Turmeric, *Haldi* *Piper nigrum* Linn., Black-pepper, *Kali Mirch* *Piper betle* Linn., Betel-pepper, *Pan* *Piper longum* Linn., Long-pepper, *Pippal* *Elettaria cardamomum* (Linn.) Maton var. *minor* Watt, Cardamom, *Choti Elachi*

Sugar Plants

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*Saccharum officinarum* Linn., Sugarcane, *Ganna*

Fibre Plants

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*Corchorus capsularis* Linn., White Jute, *Pat* *Corchorus olitorius* Linn., Tossa Jute, *Costa* *Crotalaria juncea* Linn., Sannhemp, *San* *Gossypium arboreum* Linn., Tree-cotton, *Kapas* *Hibiscus cannabinus* Linn., Mesta, *Patsan* *Hibiscus sabdariffa* Linn., Roselle, *Patwa*, *Lalambari*

Medicinal Plants

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*Cannabis sativa* Linn., Hemp, *Bhang*, *Ganja*

II. Cultivated Plants Introduced into India from Other Countries

I. Cultivated Plants Introduced into India from Western Asia

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CEREALS

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Hordeum vulgare Linn. emend. Bowden, Barley, Jau Triticum dicoccum Schübl., Emmer wheat, Gehun T. aestivum Linn. emend. Thell., Bread-wheat, Gehun

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PULSES

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Cicer arietinum Linn., Chick-pea, Chana Lens culinaris Medic. (L. esculenta Moench), Lentil, Masur Pisum sativum Linn., Pea, Mattar Vicia faba Linn., Broad-bean, Bakla

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VEGETABLES

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Allium cepa Linn., Onion, Pyaz A. sativum Linn., Garlic, Lehson Beta vulgaris Linn., Beet, Chukander Brassica rapa (Linn.) Thell. emend. Metzger, Turnip, Shalgam Brassica oleracea Linn. var. capitata Linn., Cabbage, Bandh Gobi Daucus carota Linn., Carrot, Gazar Raphanus sativus Linn., Radish, Muli Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn., Fenugreek, Methi

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SPICES

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Coriandrum sativum Linn., Coriander, Dhania Cuminum cyminum Linn., Cumin, Zira Foeniculum vulgare Mill., Fennel, Saunf

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FODDER CROPS

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Medicago sativa Linn., Alfalfa, Lucerne, Hol, Vilaiti Gawuth

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FIBRE CROPS

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Linum usitatissimum Linn., Flax, Alsi

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MEDICINAL PLANTS

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Atropa belladonna Linn., Belladonna, Sagangur, Angurshefa Digitalis purpurea Linn., Digitalis, Foxglove Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn., Licorice, Mulhatti Papaver somniferum Linn., Poppy, Post, Afim Plantago psyllium Linn., Black Psyllium, Kala Isabgol

II. Cultivated Plants Introduced into India from Africa

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CEREALS

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*Eleusine coracana* (Linn.) Gaertn., Finger-millet, *Ragi* *Pennisetum typhoides* (Burm. f.) Stapf & C.E. Hubb. [*some consider it to be P. americanum* (Linn. ) Schum.], Pearlmillet, *Bajra* *Sorghum bicolor* (Linn.) Moench, Sorghum, *Jowar*

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PULSES

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*Vigna unguiculata* (Linn.) Walp., Cowpea, *Lobia*, *Chowli*

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OILSEEDS

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*Ricinus communis* Linn., Castor, *Arind* *Sesamum indicum* Linn., Sesamum, *Til*

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VEGETABLES

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*Abelmoschus esculentus* (Linn.) Moench, Okra, *Bhindi*

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FODDER CROPS

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*Panicum maximum* Jacq., Guinea-grass, *Gini-ghas* *Pennisetum purpureum* Schum., Elephant-grass, Napier-grass

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BEVERAGES

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*Coffea arabica* Linn., Coffee, *Kafi*

III. Cultivated Plants Introduced into India from China

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CEREALS

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*Panicum miliaceum* Linn., Proso-millet, Hog-millet, *Chin*, *Morha*, *Anu* *Setaria italica* (Linn.) Beauv., Italian millet, *Kangni*

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PULSES

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*Glycine max* (Linn.) Merrill, Soybean, *Bhat*, *Ramkurthi*

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OILSEEDS

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*Aleurites fordii* Hemsl., Tung-oil *Sapium sebiferum* (Linn.) Roxb., Tallow-tree, *Pippalyang*, *Vilaiti Shisham*

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FRUITS

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*Eriobotrya japonica* (Thunb.) Lindl., Loquat, *Lokat* *Juglans regia* Linn., Walnut, *Akhrut* *Litchi chinensis* Sonner., Litchi, *Lichi* *Prunus armeniaca* Linn., Apricot, *Khumbani* *P. persica* Batsch, Peach, *Aru*

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BEVERAGES

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*Camellia sinensis* (Linn.) Kuntze, Tea, *Cha*

IV. Cultivated Plants Introduced into India from Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands

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ROOT AND TUBER CROPS

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*Amorphophallus* spp. *Dioscorea alata* Linn., Greater Yam, *Khamalu, Chuprialu*

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FRUITS

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*Artocarpus communis* Forst., Breadfruit *Averrhoa bilimbi* Linn., Bilimbi, *Bilimbi* *A. carambola* Linn., Carambola, *Kamrakh, Karmal* *Citrus aurantifolia* Swingle, Lime, *Nimbu* *C. aurantium* Linn., Sour-orange, *Khatta* *C. decumanus* Linn., Shaddock, Pomelo, *Chakotara* *C. limon* (Linn.) Burm. f., Lemon, *Barabimbu* *C. medica* Linn., Citron *C. nobilis* Lour., Tangerine *C. paradisi* Macfad., Grapefruit *C. sinensis* (Linn.) Osbeck, Sweet-orange, *Musambi, Malta* *Durio zibethinus* Murr., Durian, Civet-fruit *Garcinia mangostana* Linn., Mangosteen, *Mangustan*

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PALMS

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*Arenga pinnata* (Wurumb.) Merr., Sugar-palm *Cocos nucifera* Linn., Coconut, *Nariyal* *Metroxylon sagus* Rottb., Sago-palm, Sago

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CHEWING

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*Areca catechu* Linn., Arecanut, *Supari* *Piper betle* Linn., Betel-pepper, *Pan*

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TOILET

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*Lawsonia inermis* Linn., Henna, *Mehndi*

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*Note:* Lists of cultivated plants introduced into India from Europe and the New World would be given in subsequent volumes.