ASPARAGUS (Asparagus officinalis)

Common name : Asparagus, or garden asparagus, folk name sparrow grass.

ASPARAGUS (Asparagus officinalis): A spring vegetable, a flowering perennial plant. It is widely cultivated as a vegetable crop. Asparagus is a herbaceous growing plant to 100–150 cm (39–59 in) tall, with stout stems with much-branched, feathery foliage.

Shape: The "leaves" are in fact needle-like cladodes (modified stems) in the axils of scale leaves; they are 6–32 mm (0.24–1.26 in) long and 1 mm (0.039 in) broad, and clustered four to 15 together, in a rose-like shape.

The fruit is a small red berry 6–10 mm diameter, which is poisonous to humans.

Uses : young asparagus shoots are commonly eaten: once the buds start to open ("ferning out"), the shoots quickly turn woody. Water makes up 93% of asparagus's composition. Asparagus is low in calories and is very low in sodium. It is a good source of vitamin B6, calcium, magnesium, and zinc, and a very good source of dietary fibre, protein, beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, iron, phosphorus, potassium, copper, manganese, and selenium

BLACK PEPPER

Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning, known as a peppercorn. Peppercorns and the ground pepper derived from them may be described simply as pepper, or more precisely as black pepper (cooked and dried unripe fruit), green pepper (dried unripe fruit), and white pepper (ripe fruit seeds).

Shape & Size & Color:

• When fresh and fully mature, it is approximately 5 millimetres (0.20 in) in diameter and dark red, and contains a single seed like all drupes.

Varieties:

• Black pepper

• White pepper

• Green pepper

• Red peppercorns

• Pink pepper

Nutritional Fact:

• One tablespoon (6 grams) of ground black pepper contains moderate amounts of vitamin K (13% of the daily value or DV), iron (10% DV) and manganese (18% DV), with trace amounts of other essential nutrients, protein and dietary fibre.

Health Benefits:

• Improves Digestion

• Weight Loss

• Provides Respiratory Relief

• Skin Care

• Antibacterial Quality

• Antioxidant Potential

• Improves Cognitive Function

• Enhances Bioavailability

• Treats Peptic Ulcers

• Prevents Asthma

• Relieves could and cough

• Improves oral health

• Improves fertility in men & Helps quit smoking

AAMLA

Phyllanthus emblica, also known as emblic, myrobalan, Indian gooseberry, Malacca tree, or amla from Sanskrit amalaki is a deciduous tree of the family Phyllanthaceae. It is known for its edible fruit of the same name.

• Amla is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree, which is known for its edible fruit of the same name. The tree has a crooked trunk and spreading branches. The leaves are simple, nearly stalkless and closely set along slender branchlets.

• In Ayurveda text it is mentioned that the special properties of rejuvenation and revitalizing of the entire body systems lie in the fruit of Aamla. Aamla or Emblica officinalis which is its Latin name is found extensively in India in the form of two varieties.

• Amla is a subtropical plant and prefers dry subtropical climate. Even mild frost during the winter months can be injurious to the tree.

Shape & Size & Color:

• The tree is small to medium in size, reaching 1–8 metres(3.5–26 feet) in height. The bark is mottled.

• The leaves are simple, subsessile and closely set along branchlets, light green, resembling pinnate leaves.

• The flowers are greenish–yellow.

• The fruit is nearly spherical, light greenish–yellow, quite smooth and hard on appearance, with six vertical stripes or furrows.

Some Interesting facts:

• Bloom time: Late Winter/Early Spring

• Height: 10 to 26 feet

• Sunlight: Full sunlight

• Soil: It is well adapted to variety of soils at pH ranging from alkaline to neutral and acidic. Plant shows preference for calcareous well drained and light textured soils.

• Water: For young plants, water should be provided every 10-15 days.

• Temperature: Can tolerate temperature from freezing to 46 degrees C.

• Fertilizer: Organic manures are preferred. The crop does not have any specific requirement for N, P and K. However FYM or nitrogenous fertilizers applied in appropriate quantities result in better growth and higher herb yield.

AEGLE MARMELOS

Aegle marmelos, commonly known as bael (or bili or bhel), also Bengal quince, golden apple, Japanese bitter orange, stone apple or wood apple, is a species of tree native to India, Nepal, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Myanmar.

Some Botanical Information:

• Bark: The bark is pale brown or grayish, smooth or finely fissured and flaking, armed with long straight spines, 1.2-2.5 cm singly or in pairs, often with slimy sap oozing out from cut parts.

• Leaf: The leaf is trifoliate, alternate, each leaflet 5-14 x 2–6 cm, ovate with

tapering or pointed tip and rounded base, untoothed or with shallow rounded teeth. Young leaves are pale green or pinkish, finely hairy while mature leaves are dark green and completely smooth.

• Flower: The flowers are 1.5 to 2 cm, pale green or yellowish, sweetly scented, bisexual, in short drooping unbranched clusters at the end of twigs and leaf axils. They usually appear with young leaves.

• Fruit: The bael fruit typically has a diameter of between 5 and 12 cm. It is globose or slightly pear-shaped with a thick, hard rind and does not split upon ripening. The woody shell is smooth and green, gray until it is fully ripe when it turns yellow.

ABRONIA

Abronia, the sand-verbenas or wild lantanas, is a genus of about 20 species of annual or perennial herbaceous plants in the family Nyctaginaceae. Despite the common names, they are not related to Verbena (vervains) or lantanas in the family Verbenaceae. They are closely allied with Tripterocalyx.

• They are native to western North America, from Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada, south to west Texas, California, Baja California and central Mexico, growing on dry sandy soils. Abronia macrocarpa, a Texas endemic, is protected under the Endangered Species Act. Abronia the

Yellowstone sand verbena, is a plant unique to Yellowstone National Park’s lakeshores and is endemic to the park. Only a few species are widespread, and many are quite rare. They make very attractive garden plants for hot, dry sandy sites.

Cultivation and Uses:

The stout, sweet root of Abronia fragrans and Abronia latifolia, sometimes over 60 cm long, can be eaten as a root vegetable.

MARIGOLD

French marigolds Tagetes patula,

African marigolds Tagetes erecta

Signet marigolds Tagetes tenuifolia.

Common Name: Merigold, Tagetes , Cempōhualxōchit

Tagetes / Merigold is a genus of 50 species of annual or perennial, mostly herbaceous plants in the family Asteraceae. They are among several groups of plants known in English as marigolds. The genus Tagetes was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753.

Tagetes species vary in size from 0.1 to 2.2 m tall. Most species have pinnate green leaves. Blooms naturally occur in golden, orange, yellow, and white colors, often with maroon

highlights. Cultivated varieties of marigold include multi-colored plants and those with double flower headsFloral heads are typically (1-) to 4–6 cm diameter, generally with both ray florets and disc florets. 

Depending on the species, Tagetes species grow well in almost any sort of soil. Marigold has erect stem that can reach 6 to 48 inches in height (depending on the variety). Marigold has oblong and lanceolate leaves with whole margins. Some varieties of marigold have leaves with toothed edges.. Most types of marigold have spicy aroma. Marigold produces flowers all year round under optimal weather conditions.

Uses:

• Dyes extracted from the marigold flowers are used in textile and food industry.

• Essential oils extracted from the marigold show protective effects on the skin. They are used in cosmetic industry for the production of creams and lotions.

• Marigold has protective properties and used it for treatment of burns that resulted from lightning strike.

• Marigolds are often used by many people for decorative purposes. But apart from its bright and attractive flowers, this plant can be utilized in other ways

BITTER GOURD (Momordica charantia)

Kayo Na khaye Bitter Gourd

Common Name: Bitter melon, bitter gourd, bitter squash, or balsam-pea

A tropical and subtropical vine of the family Cucurbitaceae, widely grown in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean for its edible fruit. Its many varieties differ substantially in the shape and bitterness of the fruit. Very bitter because of the cucurbitacins. Bitter melon nutrition is quite good when compared to more well-known fruits such as cantaloupe. The fruit is blanched or soaked in salt water to reduce the bitterness, then pickled, stir-fried or stuffed.

Health benefits of bitter gourd:

• Treats Blood Disorders

• Helps Kill Cancer Cells

• Can Stop Cholera

• Boost Your Energy Levels

• Eye Problems

• Boost Your Immune System

• Weight Loss

• Purifies Blood

• Skin Benefits:

• Prevents Skin Problems

• Skin Infections

• Anti-Aging

• Healing Qualities

• Hair Benefits:

• Make Shiny Hair

• Removes Dandruff

• Make Split Ends

• Dry and Itchy Scalp

• Decrease Hair Loss

MEDICINAL PLANTS - RATI (ABRUS PRECATORIUS)

colors exist. Jewelry-making with jequirity seeds is somewhat hazardous. There are persistent reports that the workers who pierce the seeds in order to thread them can suffer poisoning or even death from a pinprick, but there seems to be little evidence. An online search found 265 scientific papers referring to Abrus precatorius, but not one of them dealt with occupational poisoning.

Traditional Health Benefits

Crab’s eye has poisonous seeds which are red in color but white seeds are also found. The other parts of the plant are used for various medicinal purposes. The leaf acts as an aid for body inflammation and wounds.

• Leaves are used on gum for the mouth sores and to prepare the preparations of skin cancer.

• The tea made from leaves is a cure for colds, fevers and coughs.

• In Ayurveda, the plant is used to promote hair growth.

• It is also used as ingredient in the Indian hair product.

Abrus precatorius, known commonly as jequirity Crab's eye, or crab's eye creeper, cock's eyes, rosary pea, paternoster pea, love pea, precatory pea or bean, prayer bead, John Crow Bead, coral bead, red-bead vine, country licorice, Indian licorice, wild licorice, Jamaica wild licorice, Akar Saga, gidee .

The plant is best known for its seeds, which are used as beads and in percussion instruments, and which are toxic because of the presence of abrin. Ingestion of a single seed, well chewed, can be fatal to both adults and children.

Uses in Jewellery

The seeds of Abrus precatorius are much valued in native jewelry for their bright coloration. Most beans are black and red reminiscent of a ladybug, though other