A History of Agriculture in India v1.c45: Appendix V. Select List of Plants Mentioned in Sanskrit Literature
A History of Agriculture in India v1.c45
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Appendix V. Select List of Plants Mentioned in Sanskrit Literature
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(for a detailed list see *Wealth of India: Raw Materials*, Vol. 11, Cumulative Indexes. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi)
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| Name of plant in Sanskrit | Botanical name | A brief description |
| Aguru | *Aquilaria agallocha* Roxb. | A large evergreen tree with fragrant heart-wood |
| Arjuna | *Terminalia arjuna* (Roxb. ex. DC.) Wight & Arn. | A large shady tree |
| Aśoka | *Saraca asoca* (Roxb.) De Wilde | A herald of spring, it produces scarlet crimson bunches of flowers in early March. Said to flower on the touch of a beautiful woman's feet |
| Atimukta | *Jasminum* sp. | |
| Bandhuka | *Pentapetes phoenicea* Linn. (or *Leucas lavenduliifolia* Rees) | |
| Bimba | *Coccinia cordifolia* (Linn.) Cogn. (syn. *C. indica* Wight & Arn.) | A climber whose unripe fruits, smooth and bright green, often with white stripes, are used as vegetable. When ripe they become bright scarlet-red |
| Bel, Sriphala | *Aegle marmelos* Correa | 'Bengal quince', a large round fruit |
| Caṇaka | *Cicer arietinum* Linn. | Chickpea, gram |
| Champaka | *Michelia champaca* Linn. | A large tree commonly grown in temples, with light yellow fragrant flowers |
| Chuta | *Mangifera indica* Linn. | Mango. Flowers in early March in north India |
| Devadaru | *Cedrus deodara* (Roxb.) Loud. | The Himalayan cedar |
| Gandharaja | *Gardenia jasminoides* Ellis | A shrub with highly fragrant white flowers |
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| Godhūma | *Triticum* | Wheat |
| Guñja | *Abrus precatorius* Linn. | Seeds used as jeweller's weights |
| Hareṇu | | A pulse |
| Ikṣu | *Saccharum* | Sugarcane |
| Kadamba | *Anthocephalus cadamba* Miq. | Ball-like flowers during the rainy season, favourite of Krishna |
| Kandali | *Aneilema vaginatum* R. Br. | An annual herb with blue-purple flowers during the rainy season |
| Karnikara | *Pterospermum acerifolium* Willd. | A large tree with broad leaves |
| Kaila (Plantain) | *Musa paradisiaca* Linn. | Smooth straight stem, symbol of female beauty |
| Kamala | *Nelumbo nucifera* Gaertn. | Day-flowering, common lotus |
| Karpasa, Tula | *Gossypium arboreum* Linn. | Tree-cotton |
| Kaśa | *Saccharum spontaneum* Linn. | A tall grass |
| Kesara | *Crocus sativus* Linn. | A herald of spring |
| Ketaki | *Pandanus odoratissimus* Linn. | Screw-pine—a highly fragrant plant with spinous sword-like pointed leaves |
| Kimsuka | *Butea monosperma* (Lam.) Taub. | (Palasa, Dhak) Tree with beautiful crimson-red flowers, a herald of spring |
| Kovidara | *Bauhinia purpurea* Linn. | A small tree bearing pink flowers in November |
| Kulattha | | A pulse |
| Kumuda | *Nymphaea esculenta* Roxb. | A waterlily with white flowers opening at night time, and closing during the day |
| Kunda | *Jasminum multiflorum* (Burm. f.) Andr. | A jasmine |
| Kurabaka | *Lawsonia inermis* Linn. | (*Mehndi*) Crushed leaves used for dyeing palms of hands |
| Kuruvinda, Maṣa | *Vigna mungo* (Linn.) Hepper | Blackgram |
| Kutaja | *Wrightia zeylanica* R. Br. | A small tree with white flowers |
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| Lavanga-Lata | *Luvunga scandens* (Roxb.) Buch.-Ham. ex Weight | A herald of spring |
| Lodhra | *Symplocos racemosa* Roxb. | Pollen used as face powder in ancient India |
| Madhavi | *Hiptage benghalensis* (Linn.) Kurz | A scandent shrubby climber, herald of spring, and lover of the mango tree |
| Mahua | *Madhuca indica* J.F. Gmel. | A common shade tree in Central India. An alcoholic beverage is distilled from its flowers |
| Malati | *Jasminum flexile* Vahl | A twining shrub with fragrant white flowers |
| Mandara | *Erythrina variegata* Linn. | Small tree with red flowers in leafless condition in early March |
| Masa, Kuruvinda | *Vigna mungo* (Linn.) Hepper | Blackgram |
| Masura | *Lens culinaris* Medic. | Lentil |
| Mudga | | A pulse |
| Naga-Kesara | *Mesua ferrea* Linn. | A forest tree of Eastern India with white flowers with yellow interior |
| Nalika, Nali | *Pennisetum typhoides* (Burm.) f. Stapf & C.E. Hubb. | Pearlmillet |
| Narikela | *Cocos nucifera* Linn. | The coconut palm |
| Navamallika | *Jasminum arborescens* Roxb. | A shrubby jasmine |
| Padam | *Prunus cerasoides* D. Don | Wild cherry found in the temperate Himalayas at altitudes from 900 to 1,830 metres |
| Parijataka | *Nyctanthes arbor-tristis* Linn. | *Har-singhar*. Drops its flowers in the morning |
| Patala | *Stereospermum suaveolens* DC. | Trumpet-flower, herald of spring |
| Pipal | *Ficus religiosa* Linn. | A large tree with glossy, dark-green, poplar-like leaves |
| Pital | | A yellow flower not identified |
| Priyangu | *Setaria italica* (Linn.) P. Beauv. | Millet |
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| Punnaga | *Calophyllum inophyllum* Linn. | A tree with glabrous leaves, and fragrant white flowers |
| Sala, Sarja | *Shorea robusta* Gaertn. f. | A tall timber tree, one of the trees associated with the birth of the Buddha |
| Saptachchhada | *Alstonia scholaris* R. Br. | A handsome shade tree |
| Sarṣapa | *Brassica juncea* Linn. | Leaf mustard, Rai |
| Semal, Salmali | *Bombax ceiba* Linn. | Silk-cotton tree. Beautiful cup-like red flowers in early March |
| Sirisha | *Albizia lebbeck* (Linn.) Benth. | Fragrant flowers during the early rainy-season |
| Sriphala, Bel | *Aegle marmelos* Correa | Honey-apple, ‘Bengal quince’, a large round fruit |
| Tala | *Borassus flabellifer* Linn. | Palmyra—round purple fruits, symbol of female charm |
| Tamala | *Garcinia xanthochymus* Hook.f., or *Cinnamomum tamala* (Buch.-Ham.) Nees & Eberm. | Straight stem, dark fragrant leaves, symbol of Krishna |
| Tambula, *pan* | *Piper betle* Linn. | Betel. A climber; leaves used for chewing |
| Tila | *Sesamum indicum* Linn. | Sesame |
| Tula, Kārpāsa | *Gossypium arboreum* Linn. | Tree-cotton |
| Utpala | *Nymphaea caerulea* Sav.; *N. stellata* Willd. | The blue waterlily |
| Vakula | *Mimusops elengi* Linn. | (Moulsari) A dwarf tree, bears highly fragrant flowers during the rainy season |
| Vrihi | *Oryza sativa* Linn. | Rice |
| Yava | *Hordeum vulgare* Linn. emend. Bowden | Barley |
| Yavanāla | *Sorghum bicolor* (Linn.) Moench | Sorghum |
| Yuthika | *Jasminum auriculatum* Vahl | A jasmine with fragrant white flowers tinged with purple |