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We find a mention of plants, their medicinal properties, uses as food grains, in yajnas, as wood and timber etc in various texts such as     

We find a mention of plants, their medicinal properties, uses as food grains, in yajnas, as wood and timber etc in various texts such as     

# Vedas - [[Samhita (संहिता)|Samhitas]], [[Brahmana (ब्राह्मणम्)|Brahmanas]], [[Aranyaka (आरण्यकम्)|Aranyakas]] and [[Upanishads (उपनिषदः)|Upanishads]] of [[Rigveda (ऋग्वेदः)|Rigveda]], [[Yajurveda (यजुर्वेदः)|Yajurveda]], [[Atharvaveda (अथर्ववेदः)|Atharvaveda]] describe plant life extensively.<ref name=":5" />

# Vedas - [[Samhita (संहिता)|Samhitas]], [[Brahmana (ब्राह्मणम्)|Brahmanas]], [[Aranyaka (आरण्यकम्)|Aranyakas]] and [[Upanishads (उपनिषदः)|Upanishads]] of [[Rigveda (ऋग्वेदः)|Rigveda]], [[Yajurveda (यजुर्वेदः)|Yajurveda]], [[Atharvaveda (अथर्ववेदः)|Atharvaveda]] describe plant life extensively with reference to food grains, samidhas in yajnas, seasonal.<ref name=":5" />

# Dharmasutras - Gobhilagrihya-sutra mentions that Asvattha brings danger of fire to one’s residence and that Udumbara leads to a series of optical diseases.

# Dharmasutras - Gobhilagrihya-sutra mentions that Asvattha brings danger of fire to one’s residence and that Udumbara leads to a series of optical diseases.

# Puranas - Agnipurana, Matsyapurana, Vayupurana mention about plants and their classification

# Puranas - Agnipurana, Matsyapurana, and Vayupurana mention about plants and their classification, plant parts and their usage.

# Ramayana <ref>Murugesan, A and P. Sudhakar (2013) ''[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325144789_Plant_and_Animal_diversity_in_Valmiki's_Ramayana Plant diversity in the Valmiki Ramayana]'' Chennai: C. P. R. Environmental Education Centre</ref> and Mahabharata<ref>Mani, N. (2007). ''Panchamved Mahabharat mein Padapa Vichar''. 2nd World Congress on Vedic Sciences.</ref> describe the ecological aspects and about plants having life

# Ramayana <ref>Murugesan, A and P. Sudhakar (2013) ''[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325144789_Plant_and_Animal_diversity_in_Valmiki's_Ramayana Plant diversity in the Valmiki Ramayana]'' Chennai: C. P. R. Environmental Education Centre</ref> and Mahabharata<ref>Mani, N. (2007). ''Panchamved Mahabharat mein Padapa Vichar''. 2nd World Congress on Vedic Sciences.</ref> describe the ecological aspects and consciousness in plants

# Ayurveda - Charaka and Sushruta Samhitas extensively describe various types of plants, their parts and their medicinal functions for treatment of different ailments of human beings and other creatures.

# Ayurveda - Charaka and Sushruta Samhitas extensively describe various types of plants, their parts and their medicinal functions for treatment of different ailments of human beings and other creatures.

# Brihatsamhita - speaks of trees like the Asoka and Punnaga which are beneficial to warfare.<ref name=":2">Ghose, A. K. 1971. Botany: The Vedic and Post-Vedic Periods. In ''A Concise History of Science in India'' (Ed.) D. M. Bose, S. N. Sen and B.V. Subbarayappa. New Delhi: Indian National Science Academy. Pp. 375-392.</ref>

# Brihatsamhita - mentions trees like the Asoka and Punnaga which are used for warfare.<ref name=":2">Ghose, A. K. 1971. Botany: The Vedic and Post-Vedic Periods. In ''A Concise History of Science in India'' (Ed.) D. M. Bose, S. N. Sen and B.V. Subbarayappa. New Delhi: Indian National Science Academy. Pp. 375-392.</ref>

# Vrkshayurveda - 14 kandas described<ref name=":2" /><ref>A K, S., & Katti, A. (2022). Science of Plant Life - Vrikshayurveda: A Historical Account. ''International Journal of Ayurvedic and Herbal Medicine'', ''12''(2), 4204–4208. <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.47191/ijahm/v12i2.06</nowiki></ref>

# Vrkshayurveda - 14 kandas described<ref name=":2" /><ref>A K, S., & Katti, A. (2022). Science of Plant Life - Vrikshayurveda: A Historical Account. ''International Journal of Ayurvedic and Herbal Medicine'', ''12''(2), 4204–4208. <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.47191/ijahm/v12i2.06</nowiki></ref>

# Arthashastra classifies plants based on their economic uses.<ref name=":13" />

# Arthashastra classifies plants based on their economic uses.<ref name=":13" />

==व्युत्पत्तिः ॥ Etymology==

==व्युत्पत्तिः ॥ Etymology==

=== Yajurveda ===

=== Yajurveda ===

The trees and plants revealed in the Vēdas are the key for the ritualistic activities or yajñas. Initiating any yajña begins primarily with the covering of the yajñavēdi (yajña alter) with the darbha [Desmostachya bipinnata], which is a grass. Several implements used in yajñas are manufactured from the wood of specified trees was described in Yajurveda. Yajñas and yāgās being the fundamental characteristics of the Yajurveda, involved extensive usage of plant products. The names of plants, trees and their products that are specifically used in the yajñas, yāgās, hōmās and iṣṭis are elaborately described in the Saṃhitās and Brāhmaṇās.<ref name=":3" />

The trees and plants revealed in the Vēdas are the key for the ritualistic activities or yajñas. Initiating any yajña begins primarily with the covering of the yajñavēdi (yajña alter) with the darbha [Desmostachya bipinnata], which is a grass. Several implements used in yajñas are manufactured from the wood of specified trees was described in [[Yajurveda (यजुर्वेदः)|Yajurveda]]. Yajñas and yāgās being the fundamental characteristics of the Yajurveda, involved extensive usage of plant products. The names of plants, trees and their products that are specifically used in the yajñas, yāgās, hōmās and iṣṭis are elaborately described in the Saṃhitās and Brāhmaṇās.<ref name=":3" />

[[File:Samidhas cherished by Agni.png|thumb|Seven samidhas of importance in yajñas]]

[[File:Samidhas cherished by Agni.png|thumb|Seven samidhas of importance in yajñas]]

The homa involves two things– the material to be offered in yajña and the implement used during the yajña. Of them, the ‘samidhas’ are very commonly used as the materials from several trees and plants offered into the fire of yajñas. Seven are cherished offerings to Agni include<ref name=":4" />

The homa involves two things– the material to be offered in yajña and the implement used during the yajña. Of them, the ‘samidhas’ are very commonly used as the materials from several trees and plants offered into the fire of yajñas. Seven are cherished offerings to Agni include<ref name=":4" />

# मधुमती ॥ sweet  

# मधुमती ॥ sweet  

# प्रचेतस ॥ one that gives chetana (life force)

# प्रचेतस ॥ one that gives chetana (life force)

# मेदिनी ॥ nourishing

# मेदिनी ॥ one which nourishes

# उग्रा ॥ one that produces severe effects  

# उग्रा ॥ one that produces severe effects  

# विषदूषणीः ॥ one that destroys poisons

# विषदूषणीः ॥ one that destroys poisons

# बलासनाशनीः ॥ destroys kapha  

# बलासनाशनीः ॥ destroys kapha  

Plants have preventive and curative properties. As प्रदूषनिवारकाः ॥ one that prevents pollution - Yajuveda mentions that plants prevent pollution and hence are called शमिता (शमनकर्ता)<ref name=":6" />

Plants have preventive and curative properties. As प्रदूषनिवारकाः ॥ one that prevents pollution - Yajuveda mentions that plants prevent pollution and hence are called शमिता (शमनकर्ता)<ref name=":6" /><blockquote>वनस्पतिः शमिता देवोऽ अग्निः स्वदन्तु हव्यं मधुना घृतेन ॥ vanaspatiḥ śamitā devo’ agniḥ svadantu havyaṃ madhunā ghṛtena || (Shuk. Yaju. 29.35)<ref>Shukla Yajurveda ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A8%E0%A5%AF Adhyaya 29])</ref></blockquote>The supreme being takes an उग्रा or dreaded form as vanaspatis and cause significant effects (Atharvaveda and Koushitaki Brahmana), they cure many ailments and destroy disease causing germs. They have the capacity to promote energy, growth, and strength in all beings.<ref name=":6" />

 

वनस्पतिः शमिता देवोऽ अग्निः स्वदन्तु हव्यं मधुना घृतेन ॥ vanaspatiḥ śamitā devo’ agniḥ svadantu havyaṃ madhunā ghṛtena || (Shuk. Yaju. 29.35)<ref>Shukla Yajurveda ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A8%E0%A5%AF Adhyaya 29])</ref>

 

The supreme being take an उग्रा or dreaded form as vanaspatis and cause significant effects as given Atharvaveda and Koushitaki Brahmana, they cure many ailments and destroy disease causing germs. They have the capacity to promote energy, growth, and strength in all beings.<ref name=":6" />

== Plant Morphology and Habitats==

== Plant Morphology and Habitats==

=== Plant Parts ===

=== Plant Parts ===

==== Morphological characteristics ====

==== Morphological characteristics ====

Morphological features were well identified in Indian treatises.  

Morphological features were well identified in Indian treatises.<ref name=":8" />

* the number of leaflets in a compound leaf (e.g. Saptaparṇa (सप्तपर्ण) is identified with ''Alstonia scholaris'' (the blackboard tree)),  

* the number of leaflets in a compound leaf (e.g. Saptaparṇa (सप्तपर्ण) is identified with ''Alstonia scholaris'' (the blackboard tree)),  

* nature of shape of the leaf (e.g. dirghapatraka (दीर्घपत्रक) is one with long leaves as in sugar-cane, ashvaparnaka refers to Shorea robusta whose leaves resemble the shape of the ear of a horse),  

* nature of shape of the leaf (e.g. dirghapatraka (दीर्घपत्रक) is one with long leaves as in sugar-cane, ashvaparnaka refers to Shorea robusta whose leaves resemble the shape of the ear of a horse),  

* shape and color of flowers (e.g. vakrapushpa or Sesbania grandifolia with papilionaceous flowers), and

* shape and color of flowers (e.g. vakrapushpa or Sesbania grandifolia with papilionaceous flowers),  

* other characteristics like Sataparvika or grasses having hundred (many) joints in its stem, apushpaphalada refers to jackfruit where fruits arise without (apparent) flowers.

* other characteristics like Sataparvika or grasses having hundred (many) joints in its stem, apushpaphalada refers to jackfruit where fruits arise without (apparent) flowers.

Physiological characteristics

==== Physiological characteristics ====

 

=== Growth Habitats ===

=== Growth Habitats ===