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Line 1: − '''Introduction''' + − Though a single work devoted to botany is unknown, the knowledge of botany among Indians is well known from Vedas, works on Ayurveda, Krishishastra, Arthashastra and lexicons. Terms like Vrkshayurveda and Vanaspatividya tell us that knowledge of botany flourished in the past. There are few legends which indicate that ancient Indians had several beliefs associated with trees. For instance, Gobhilagrihyasutra mentions that Asvatta brings danger of fire to one’s residence and that Udumbara leads to a series of optical diseases. Also, Brihatsamhita speaks of trees like the Asoka and Punnaga which are beneficial to warfare.+ − '''Literature Review''' + + − '''Nomenclature'''+ − The branch of taxonomy includes nomenclature and suitable grouping of the plants.In general, plants were named with a scientific approach. A look at the etymology of the synonymns of trees tells us that naming was backed by reason.+ − + − + − + − + − * शाखी that which has branches+ − + − + − + − + + +
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Plant taxonomy is a systematic study that deals with the identification, characterization, nomenclature, and arrangement of plants into certain categories in a hierarchical manner on the basis of similarities and dissimilarities that exist between them.
According to Britannica<ref>https://www.britannica.com/science/taxonomy/A-classification-of-living-organisms</ref> classification of living beings is based on a number of factors such animate or inanimate, mobile or immobile, single-cell or multicelled organisms, living on land or in water etc. In modern classification, living organisms are classified into five kingdoms namely, Monera (such as Bacteria), Protista (such as Algae, Protozoans), Fungi (Fungi), Plantae (Plants, Mosses, Ferns, Flowering plants) and Animalia (including animals of many kinds). Among these the branch of biology that deals with the study of plants including their structure, properties and biochemical processes is called Botany.
== Introduction ==
In Indian Knowledge Systems, though no single work devoted to botany is known, the knowledge of botany among Indians is well known from Vedas, works on Ayurveda, Krishishastra, Arthashastra and the lexicons. Terms like Vrkshayurveda and Vanaspati vidya tell us that knowledge of botany flourished in the past and its principles and findings were the foundations to applied sciences such as [[Sasya Veda (सस्यवेदः)|agriculture]], and [[Ayurveda (आयुर्वेदः)|ayurveda]]. There are many legends which indicate that ancient Indians had several beliefs associated with trees. Plant life were thought sacred and worshipped. For instance, Gobhilagrihyasutra mentions that Asvattha brings danger of fire to one’s residence and that Udumbara leads to a series of optical diseases. Brihatsamhita speaks of trees like the Asoka and Punnaga which are beneficial to warfare.
The branch of taxonomy includes nomenclature and suitable grouping of the plants based on some features. In general, plants were named with a scientific approach. Since Vedic time ancient people had reverence and close relationship with the plant kingdom. The usefulness of various plants has been enumerated in Atharva veda, Puranas, Itihasas and texts like Charaka samhita, and Sushruta samhita. People had knowledge of processing of almost every part of the plant namely, roots, barks, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds.
== Etymology ==
* वृक्ष वृश्च्यते छिद्यते that which is cut
Shabdakalpadruma<ref name=":0">https://ashtadhyayi.com/kosha?search=%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B7</ref> mentions the root word for वृक्षः (Vrksha) is व्रश्च used in the sense of छेदने, to cut. Amarakosha<ref name=":0" /> gives a few synonyms of trees depicting their characteristics. <blockquote>वृक्षो महीरुहः शाखी विटपी पादपस्तरुः । अनोकहः कुटः शालः पलाशी द्रुद्रुमागमाः ॥ vṛkṣo mahīruhaḥ śākhī viṭapī pādapastaruḥ | anokahaḥ kuṭaḥ śālaḥ palāśī drudrumāgamāḥ || (Amara. 2.4.5)</blockquote>
* महीरुह (मह्यां रोहति जायत इति) - that which gets planted and grows on Earth
* महीरुह that which grows on Earth
* शाखिन् (शाखाऽस्त्यस्य।) - that which is branching, ramifying
* पादप that which drinks sap with roots
* विटपिन् (विटपोऽस्यास्ति)<ref>https://ashtadhyayi.com/kosha?page=kosha&search=%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%9F%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D</ref> - that which has branches or boughs
* पादप (पादेन मूलेन पिबति रसानिति)<ref>https://ashtadhyayi.com/kosha?page=kosha&search=%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%AA</ref> that which drinks (sap) from feet (roots)
* तरु तरन्ति अनेन आतपम् that by which people overcome heat
* तरु (तरति समुद्रादिकमनेनेति as per Shabdakalpadhruma)<ref>https://ashtadhyayi.com/kosha?page=kosha&search=%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81</ref> that by which people overcome heat
* अनोकह that whichobstructs pace of cart
* अनोकह (अनसः शकटस्य अकं गमनं) that which does not quit his home or place (does not move)
* पलाशी that which has leaves
* कुटः (कौटिल्ये as per Vachaspatyam)<ref>https://ashtadhyayi.com/kosha?page=kosha&search=%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%9F</ref> that which is crooked
* अगम न गच्छतीति that which doesn’t move
* शालः (वृक्षभेदे) a kind of a very tall and stately tree
* पलाशी (पलाशं विद्यतेऽस्य)<ref>https://ashtadhyayi.com/kosha?page=kosha&search=%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D</ref> which has leaves
* अगमः (न गच्छतीति)<ref>https://ashtadhyayi.com/kosha?page=kosha&search=%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%AE</ref> that which doesn’t move
Similar scientific basis was adopted in naming the different varieties of plants based on various factors as provided in the following table.
Similar scientific basis was adopted in naming the different varieties of plants based on various factors as provided in the following table.