Solanum torvum is a bushy, erect and spiny perennial plant used horticultural as a rootstock for eggplant. Grafted plants are very vigorous and tolerate diseases affecting the root system, thus allowing the crop to continue for a second year.

Turkey berry apparently is native from Florida and southern Alabama through the West Indies and from Mexico through Central America and South America through Brazil .

The plant is usually 2 or 3 m in height and 2 cm in basal diameter, but may reach 5m in height and 8 cm in basal diameter. The shrub usually has a single stem at ground level, but it may branch on the lower stem. The stem bark is gray and nearly smooth with raised lenticels. The inner bark has a green layer over an ivory color (Little and others 1974). The plants examined by the author, growing on firm soil, had weak taproots and well-developed laterals. The roots are white. Foliage is confined to the growing twigs.  The leaves are opposite or one per node, broadly ovate with the border entire or deeply lobed. The petioles are 1 to 6 cm long and the blades are 7 to 23 by 5 to 18 cm and covered with short hairs.

The green fresh fruits are edible and used in Thai Cuisone, as an ingredient in certain Thai curries or raw in certain Thai chili pastes (nam phrik).

Known Hazards

Although providing many well-known foods for people, including the potato, tomato, pepper and aubergine, most plants in the family Solanaceae also contain poisonous alkaloids. Unless there are specific entries with information on edible uses, it would be unwise to ingest any part of this plant

Edible uses:

The plant is often used in traditional medicine and, when used wisely, its fruit and leaves can be used to control a range of microbial activities

The juice of the plant is used to treat fevers, coughs, asthma, chest ailments, sore throats, rheumatism, dropsy, stomach aches and gonorrhoea

An infusion of the leaves and fruits is used as a treatment for bush yaws and sores

                                                                                                       Done by Aaditya Kumar

Gossypium Arboreum

Gossypium arboreum, commonly called tree cotton, is a species of cotton native to India, Pakistan and other tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World. There is evidence of its cultivation as long ago as the Harappan civilization of the Indus Valley for the production of cotton textiles. This species of cotton was also introduced into East Africa and was grown by the Meroe civilization in Nubia. The shrub was included in Linnaeus's Species Plantarum published in 1753. The holotype was also supplied by him, which is now in the Linnean Herbarium in the Swedish Museum of Natural History. It is a sister species of Gossypium herbaceum.

Kingdom:             Plantae

(unranked):        Angiosperms

(unranked):        Eudicots

(unranked):        Rosids

Order:   Malvales

Family:  Malvaceae

Genus: Gossypium

Species: G. arboretum

Description

Tree cotton is a shrub attaining heights of one to two metres. Its branches are covered with pubescence and are purple in colour. Stipules are present at the leaf base and they are linear to lanceolate in shape and sometimes falcate (i.e. sickle-shaped). The leaves are attached to the stem by a 1.5 to 10 cm petiole. The blades are ovate to orbicular in shape and have five to seven lobes, making them superficially resemble a maple leaf. The lobes are linear to lanceolate, and often a tooth is present in the sinus. Glands are present along the midrib or occasionally on the adjacent nerves. The leaves are glabrescent, meaning the pubescence is lost with age, but when it is present on young leaves, it is both stellate (i.e. star-shaped) and simple.

The flowers are set on short pedicels (i.e. flower stalks). An epicalyx is present, which is a series of subtending bracts that resemble sepals. Its large, ovate segments are dentate (i.e. toothed along the margins), though sometimes only very slightly so. They are cordate (i.e. heart-shaped) at the base and acute at the apex. The true calyx is small, measuring only about 5 mm in length. Its shape is cupular, and five subtle dentations are present. The corolla is a pale yellow on colour, sometimes with a purple centre, and occasionally entirely purple. It measures 3 to 4 cm in length. The staminal tube bears the anthers and is 1.5 to 2 cm in length. The fruit is a three- or four-celled capsule measuring 1.5 to 2.5 cm across. It is ovoid or oblong in shape and glabrous (i.e. hairless). The surface is pitted and a beak is present at the terminal end. The seeds within are globular and are covered in long white cotton.

Gossypium arboreum var. neglecta, locally known as "Phuti karpas", is the variant used to make Muslin in East India, now Bangladesh. The variation could only be grown in an area south of Dacca, along the banks of the Meghna River. It could be spun so that individual threads could maintain tensile strength at counts higher than any other variant of cotton.

BY: Shibika Tamang

Polypodium   Amoenum

Polypodium is a genus of 75–100 species of true ferns, widely distributed throughout the world, with the highest species diversity in the tropics. The name is derived from Ancient Greek poly  "many" + podion  "little foot", on account of the foot-like appearance of the rhizome and its branches. They are commonly called polypody or rockcap fern, but for many species unique vernacular names exist.

Sori, borne on the back of the leaflet, are globose and naked as in this Polypodium amorphum

They are terrestrial or epiphytic ferns, with a creeping, densely hairy or scaly rhizome bearing fronds at intervals along its length. The species differ in size and general appearance and in the character of the fronds, which are evergreen, persisting for 1-2 years, pinnate or pinnatifid (rarely simple entire), and from 10-80 cm or more long. The sori or groups of spore-cases (sporangia) are borne on the back of the frond; they are globose and naked, not covered with a membrane (indusium).

Polypodies have some use in herbalism, but are today most important in horticulture where several species, hybrids, and their cultivars like Polypodium 'Green Wave' are commonly used as ornamental plants for shady locations. Polypodium have a bitter-sweet taste and are among the rather few ferns that are used in cooking; in this case as a spice e.g. for nougat

 

Kingdom:             Plantae

Division:               Pteridophyta

Class:     Polypodiopsida /Pteridopsida (disputed)

Order:   Polypodiales

(unranked):        Eupolypods

Family:  Polypodiaceae

Genus: Polypodium

 

BY: Ritisha Maharjan

Hemidesmus  Indicus

Hemidesmus indicus, Indian sarsaparilla  is a species of plant that is found in South Asia. It is a slender, laticiferous, twining, sometimes prostrate or semi-erect shrub. Roots are woody and aromatic. The stem is numerous, slender, terete, thickened at the nodes. The leaves are opposite, short-petioled, very variable, elliptic-oblong to linear-lanceolate. The flowers are greenish outside, purplish inside, crowded in sub-sessile axillary cymes. It occurs over the greater part of India, from the upper Gangetic plain eastwards to Assam and in some places in central, western and South India.

The root is a substitute for sarsaparilla (the dried root of the tropical species of Smilax, Smilacaceae; in India Smilax aspera L., and Smilax ovalifolia Roxb.). It should be distinguished from American Sarsaparilla Smilax aristolochiifolia Mill. and Jamaican Sarsaparilla Smilax ornata Hook.f.

Indian sarsaparilla

Scientific classification

Kingdom:             Plantae

Division:               Angiosperms

(unranked):        Eudicots

(unranked):        Asterids

Order:   Gentianales

Family:  Apocynaceae

Subfamily:           Asclepiadoideae

Genus: Hemidesmus

Species:               H. indicus

Binomial name : Hemidesmus indicus

Synonyms : Periploca indica

Morphology

The stem and branches of H. indicus twine anticlockwise, and are profusely laticiferous, elongate, narrow, teret and wiry of deep purple or purplish brown colour with the surface slightly ridged at the nodes. Roots are woody, slender and aromatic. Roots smell similar to camphor, hence the plant is also known as Kapoori. Leaves are simple, petioled, exstipulate, apiculate acute or obtuse, dark green above but paler and sometimes pubescent below. Leaves of the basal parts of the shoots are linear to lanceolate. Flowers may be greenish yellow to greenish purple outside, dull yellow to light purplish inside with calyx deeply five lobed. Corolla are fused and twice the number of calyx. Pistil is bicarpellary, with free ovaries, many ovuled with distinct styles. Fruits are two straight slender narrowly cylindrical widely divergent follicles. Seeds are many, flat, oblong, with a long tuft of white silky hairs.

The plant shows opposite decussate phyllotaxy, gamopetalous aestivation and cymose inflorescence

Traditional uses

Hemidesmus indicus is used to make beverages and also used in traditional medicine. In Ayurveda it goes by the name of Ananthamoola , also known locally as Naruneendi or Nannari, Sanskrit meaning: endless root. It is also known as Anant Vel /Maeen Mool  in Marathi. In southern states of India (particularly Tamil Nadu), Sarsaparilla roots are called Maahali or Mahani Kizhangu and in its pickled form is also served along with rice dishes. It is also called the False Sarsaparilla. It is administered in the form of powder, infusion or decoction as syrup. It is one of the Rasayana plants of Ayurveda. It is sometimes confused with another Ayurvedic herb called white sariva.

The extracts from the root are used as a coolant and a blood-purifier and also used in many other forms, especially as refreshing syrup with sugar and a dash of lemon (Sharbat), and served at most small refreshment shops in South India.

Health Benefits

According to practitioners of traditional Indian medicine, Ayurveda, this root can be administered in the fourth and ninth month of pregnancy to prevent miscarriage. They also claim its efficacy in treating ulcers, fever, loss of appetite, Gastritis, Anorexia nervosa cough, excessive thirst Menorrhagia, Diarrhea and Diabetes. It is also believed that the extracts from this root help in increasing semen count, purifies blood,neutralizes poisons, works as a diuretic and emetic, and has anti-inflammatory properties.Some experimental studies have displayed the beneficial effect of the extract of this root.

 

BY: Nickliya Maharjan

Glorisa   Superba

Gloriosa   superba   is a species of flowering plant in the family Colchicaceae. English language common names include flame lily, climbing lily, creeping lily, glory lily, gloriosa lily, tiger claw, and fire lily. Names in other languages include kalihari (Hindi), agni shikha  or potti  naabhi (Telugu), kaanthal (Tamil), menthonni (Malayalam), kal-lavi (Marathi)', 'ulotchondal (Bengali), lis de Malabar (French), aranha de emposse (Portuguese), bandera  española  (Spanish), mkalamu (Swahili), klänglilja (Swedish), riri (Māori), and jia lan (Chinese). It is native to much of Africa and Asia, but it is known worldwide as an ornamental plant, a medicine, a poison , and a noxious weed.

Kingdom:             Plantae

(unranked):        Angiosperms

(unranked):        Monocots

Order:   Liliales

Family:  Colchicaceae

Genus: Gloriosa

Species:               G. superba

Biology

This species is a perennial herb growing from a fleshy rhizome. It is scandent, climbing using tendrils, the stem reaching 4 meters long. The leaves are mainly alternately arranged, but they may be opposite, as well. They are somewhat lance-shaped and tipped with tendrils, and they are up 13 to 20 centimeters long. The showy flower has six tepals each up to 5 to 7.6 centimeters long. They are generally bright red to orange at maturity, sometimes with yellowish bases. The margins may be quite wavy. The six stamens also are long, up to 4 centimeters, and each bears a large anther at the tip that drops large amounts of yellow pollen. The style may be more than 6 centimeters long. One flower may weigh over 2.5 grams. The fruit is a fleshy capsule up to 6 to 12 centimeters long containing red seeds. Cultivars of this popular garden plant may vary from these wild-type characteristics; the cultivar 'Lutea' has all-yellow tepals, 'Citrina' is yellow with red markings, and 'Nana' is a dwarf. Whitish forms are known, as well.

The plant likely is pollinated by butterflies and sunbirds. It grows in many types of habitat, including tropical jungles, forests, thickets, woodlands, grasslands, and sand dunes. It can grow in nutrient-poor soils. It can be found at as high as 2500 meters in elevation.

Toxicity

This plant is poisonous, toxic enough to cause human and animal fatalities if ingested. It has been used to commit murder, to achieve suicide, and to kill animals. Every part of the plant is poisonous, especially the tuberous rhizomes. As with other members of the Colchicaceae, this plant contains high levels of colchicine, a toxic alkaloid. It also contains the alkaloid gloriocine. Within a few hours of the ingestion of a toxic amount of plant material, a victim may experience nausea, vomiting, numbness, and tingling around the mouth, burning in the throat, abdominal pain, and bloody diarrhea, which leads to dehydration. As the toxic syndrome progresses, rhabdomyolysis, ileus, respiratory depression, hypotension, coagulopathy, haematuria, altered mental status, seizures, coma, and ascending polyneuropathy may occur. Longer-term effects include peeling of the skin and prolonged vaginal bleeding in women. Colchicine is known to cause alopecia. One case report described a patient who accidentally ate the tubers and then experienced hair loss over her entire body, including complete baldness. Poisonings can occur when the tubers are mistaken for sweet potatoes or yams and eaten. The plant can be dangerous for cats, dogs, horses, and livestock, as well.

BY: Manjeela Maharjan

Glycyrrhiza glabra (liquorice)

A herb belonging to the pea and bean family, liquorice is cultivated for its underground stems that are used to flavour confectionery; it is also valued for its 

medicinal qualities. Glycyrrhiza glabra flowers (Photo: Greg Kenicer, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh)

Species information

Scientific name:  Glycyrrhiza glabra L.

Common name:  liquorice, common liquorice, licorice, licorice-root, sweet wood liquorice

Conservation status:  Not assessed according to IUCN Red List criteria, but not considered to be threatened.

Habitat:  Dry, open scrubland, damp ditches or near streams; often in soils with high nitrogen content.

 Taxonomy

Class: Equisetopsida

Subclass: Magnoliidae

Superorder: Rosanae

Order: Fabales

Family: Leguminosae/Fabaceae - Papilionoideae

Genus: Glycyrrhiza

About this species

Also well-known as a medicinal plant, G. glabra is used in the production of cough mixtures and throat lozenges, as well as an ingredient to mask the unpleasant taste of some medicines. There are about 20 species in the genus Glycyrrhiza, and many of these are used locally to make liquorice confectionery.

Medicinal uses

It is used as an ingredient in cough mixtures and throat lozenges, Glycyrrhiza glabra has been used to treat sore throats, mouth ulcers, stomach ulcers, inflammatory stomach conditions and indigestion. It is also used to combat food poisoning in modern Chinese herbalism. Liquorice rhizomes can be chewed or made into tea, which with other anti-spasmodic herbs is often taken for menstrual cramps. Liquorice is also used as filler in capsules and added to medicines as a sweetener to mask the unpleasant taste of other ingredients.

Genus: Glycyrrhiza

Geography and distribution

Glycyrrhiza glabra is native to Eurasia, northern Africa and western Asia, where it grows up to 1,200 m above sea level. It has also been introduced to many countries, for example the USA where it is a weed of moist roadside sites. Liquorice is also cultivated as a crop plant, particularly in Russia, Spain and the Middle East.

Description

Overview: A sticky, perennial herb with underground stems (rhizomes). The hairy stems are upright, growing to about 1 m tall.

Leaves: Divided into 9–17 leaflets, held on a leaf stalk 10–20 cm long. The leaflets are arranged in pairs along a central axis, with a single leaflet pointing outwards at the end. The leaflets are 2–4 cm long and bear dotted glands on the surface.

Flowers: Light blue to violet (rarely white), 1.0–1.5 cm long and resembling sweet pea flowers in shape. The flowers are held in loose, conical spires, almost as long as the leaves, each consisting of 10 or more individual flowers.

Fruits: Pods (fruits) are reddish-brown, 1–3 cm long and 4–5 mm wide. Each pod contains 2–5 brown to blackish seeds.

Threats and conservation

 Glycyrrhiza glabra is not considered to be threatened. Where it is cultivated as a crop, it is normally harvested in a sustainable manner, although there are some concerns that the commercial harvest of rhizomes can be destructive to naturally occurring populations and their habitats.

Uses

Glycyrrhiza glabra contains the compound glycyrrhizin, which is 50 times sweeter than sugar. It was well known by the ancient Greeks and Romans for its sweetness and is still a popular flavouring for confectionery today. Cultivated as a crop plant, the underground stems (rhizomes) of G. glabra are harvested and the juice extracted before being concentrated by boiling. The solid extract is used in confectionery, such as traditional liquorice sticks and wheels.

Pontefract cakes, or pomfrets, were originally made for their medicinal properties, but later became popular as confectionery; they were produced in Pontefract (Yorkshire, UK) from about 1660 to 1960. Anethole, a compound from the anise plant (Pimpinella anisum), is often used as flavouring for confectionery in place of, or in addition to, G. glabra extract.

Other uses

Liquorice is used in the production of drinks, for example as an ingredient in many root beers, and some brewers use it to colour stout (a dark beer made using roasted malt or barley).

It is also used in plug tobacco (a form of chewing tobacco), shoe polish and soap and as a fibre  for  the production of plastics and fibreboard. Spent liquorice rhizomes (underground stems) are used in fire-extinguishing agents and as compost for growing mushrooms

Cultivation

Fruits of Glycyrrhiza   glabra’s   liquorice can be propagated by the division of rhizomes (underground stems) in early spring. Care should be taken to ensure each piece of rhizome contains a bud.

Propagation can also be carried out by sowing seed. Seeds should be pre-soaked in water and sown in the autumn in a greenhouse. In late spring, plants can be planted out in the open, but care should be taken to protect the new shoots from slugs. Alkaline, sandy but moist soil is preferable. Plant growth is initially slow, but once established the species can become weedy and difficult to remove if not kept under control by regular harvesting.

In commercial situations, the whole plant is dug up after three to five years to harvest the rhizomes, which are cleaned, trimmed, sorted and dried before being pressed into bales for shipping.

 

BY: Krisha Maharjan

Project On MACE

                                                               

                                                                 

English Name     : Mace

Scientific Name : Myristica Frangrans  Houth
Indian Name       : Javetri                                                     
Nepali Name       : Jaaipatri

INTRODUCTION

Myristica fragrans is an evergreen tree indigenous to the Moluccas (or Spice Islands) of Indonesia. It is important as the main source of the spices nutmeg and mace.The flowers are bell-shaped, pale yellow and somewhat waxy and fleshy. Staminate flowers are arranged in groups of one to ten, each 5–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long; carpellate flowers are in smaller groups, one to three, and somewhat longer, up to 10 mm (0.4 in) long.

Availability/Altitude

It usually 5–13 m (16–43 ft) tall, but occasionally reaching 20 m (66 ft). The alternately arranged leaves are dark green,5–15 cm (2.0–5.9 in) long by 2–7 cm (0.8–2.8 in) wide with petioles about 1 cm (0.4 in) long. It is widely grown across the tropics including Guangdong and Yunnan in China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Grenada in the Caribbean, Kerala in India, Sri Lanka and South America.

Research

It has been used in medicine since at least the seventh century. In the 19th century, it was used as an abortifacient, which led to numerous recorded cases of nutmeg poisoning. Although used as a folk treatment for other ailments, unprocessed nutmeg has no proven medicinal value today.

Uses


Mace have similar sensory qualities, with mace having a slightly sweeter and mace a more delicate flavour. Mace is often preferred in light dishes for the bright orange, saffron-like hue it imparts. Mace is used for flavouring many dishes, usually in ground or grated form, and is best grated fresh in a mace grater.


Name: Sadim Mali
Class: 8          Sec: 'A'
Roll no: 31

Common Name: Bitter Gourd

Scientific Name: Momordica Charantia Linn

Introduction:

Momordica charantia, known as bitter melon, bitter gourd, bitter squash, or pear, has names in other languages which have entered English as loanwords, e.g. Goya from Okinawa and karela from Sanskrit. Those from the Caribbean island of Jamaica commonly refer to the plant as cerasee.

It is a tropical and Subtropical Vine of the family Cucurbitaceae, widely grown in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean for its edible fruits. Its many varieties differ substantially in the shape and bitterness of the fruit.

Bitter melon originated in India and was introduced into China in the 14th century.

Scientific Classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Family:	Cucurbitaceae
Species:	M. charantia

Adverse effects:

Reported side effects include diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, hypoglycemia, urinary, incontinence, and chest pain. Symptoms are generally mild, do not require treatment, and resolve with rest.

Pregnancy:

Bitter melon is contraindicated in pregnant women because it can induce bleeding, contractions, and miscarriage.

Uses:

§  Bitter melon is very low in calories, carrying just 17 calories per 100 g. Nevertheless, its pods are rich sources of phytonutrients like dietary fiber, minerals, vitamins and anti-oxidants. Bitter melon stimulates easy digestion and peristalsis of food through the bowel until it is excreted from the body. Thus, it helps in relieving indigestion and constipation problems.

• In addition, it is a moderate source of B-complex vitamins such as niacin (vitamin B-3), pantothenic acid (vitamin B-5), pyridoxine (vitamin B-6) and minerals such as iron, zinc, potassium, manganese and magnesium.
• Early laboratory tests suggest that certain phyto-chemical compounds in bitter melon might be effective in the treatment of HIV infection.*
• Fresh bitter melon is an excellent source of vitamin-C (100 g of raw pod provides 84 mg or about 140% of RDI). Vitamin-C is one of the powerful natural antioxidants which helps scavenge deleterious free radicals from the human body.

Conclusion:

At last I want to thank Mr. Amit sijapati sir for giving us such a wonderful project. Because of it I have learned many things about “Bitter gourd”. It is both useful and harmful for us. J

Submitted by:

Riya Maharjan

Class:8 B

Roll no:23

Common Name: Chinese Ginseng

 

 Scientific Name: Panax Ginseng

 

Tibet (Nielamu), collected from Nepal.

In forests, the altitude of 2450-4200 meters. Nepal

Direct use 

Panax pseudoginseng is a plant. The root is used to make medicine. Be careful not to confuse panax pseudoginseng with other forms of ginseng, such as panax ginseng.

Panax pseudoginseng is used to stop or slow down bleeding. It is sometimes taken by people who have nosebleeds, vomit up or cough up blood, or find blood in their urine or feces.

Panax pseudoginseng is also used to relieve pain; and to reduce swelling, cholesterol, and blood pressure. It is also used for chest pain (angina), strokes, dizziness, and sore throat.

Some people apply Panax pseudoginseng directly to the skin to stop bleeding.

In combination with seven other herbs (PC-SPES), Panax pseudoginseng is used to treat prostate cancer.

Indirect  use

Use as a raw material in industry to make medicine

Used as medicine in hospital during treatment

Conclusion

At last I want to thank Mr.Amit Sijapati for giving us such a wonderful project. Because of it I have learnt about ‘False Ginseng’. J

Submitted  by: Nija Maharjan

Class : 8 B

Roll no:18

Aloe Vera

Introduction:

Aloe Vera (Ghyu kumari) is a plant species of the genus Aloe. It grows wild in tropical climates around the world and is cultivated for agricultural and medicinal uses. Aloe is also used for decorative purposes and grows successfully indoors as a potted plant.

It is found in many consumer products including beverages, skin lotion, or ointments for minor burns and sunburns. There is little scientific evidence of the effectiveness or safety of Aloe Vera extracts for either cosmetic or medicinal purposes.

Scientific Classification:

Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Angiosperms
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Asphodelaceae
Subfamily:	Asphodeloideae
Genus:	Aloe
Species:	A. vera

Uses:

§  You can use aloe Vera to keep your skin clear and hydrated. 

§  Aloe Vera is used on facial tissues where it is promoted as a moisturizer and anti-irritant to reduce chafing of the nose

§   Cosmetic companies commonly add sap or other derivatives from Aloe Vera to products such as makeup, tissues, moisturizers, soaps, sunscreens, incense, shaving cream, or shampoos.

§  Aloe vera gel is widely known to relieve sunburn and help heal wounds

§  It’s also used as a natural remedy for asthma, stomach ulcers, diabetes and for soothing side effects of radiation treatment.

§  Aloe gel is used for treating osteoarthritis, bowel diseases, fever, itching and inflammation.

§  It soothes rashes and skin irritations.

§  It treats constipation and helps with digestion.

Side effects:

·         If you have diabetes, some research suggests aloe might lower blood sugar, so if you take aloe by mouth and you have diabetes, monitor your blood sugar levels closely.

·         If you have intestinal conditions such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis or obstruction, don’t take aloe latex if you have any of these conditions because it’s a bowel irritant.

• Aloe might affect blood sugar levels and could interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop taking aloe at least two weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Conclusion:

While doing this project I got to know much about Aloe Vera. I would like to thank Mr Amit Sijapati for providing me a chance to do this activity.

-Dev Mani Maharjan