Native species
38Species naturally occurring in India — best adapted to local climate and soil.
Edible for food + foraging
50Plants with edible parts documented in India. Always identify positively before harvest.
Medicinal traditional + clinical
24Species with documented medicinal applications. See individual plant profiles for evidence + safety.
Introduced naturalized + cultivated
12Non-native species established in India. Some are valuable; some are invasive. Check each plant's notes.
Frequently asked
How many plants are documented in India?
50 speciess — 38 native and 12 introduced. Of these, 50 are edible and 24 have medicinal uses.
What edible plants grow wild in India?
Common edible species include Amaranthus polygamus, Amaranthus tenuifolius, Anthriscus cerefolium, Arrowroot, Berchemia lineata. See the Edible section above for the full list.
What medicinal plants grow in India?
24 medicinal plants catalogued for India, including Black Mustard, Bugle, Bush Basil, Ceylon Blackberry, Chinese Motherwort.
How is "native" vs "introduced" determined?
Status comes from TDWG botanical regions via Trefle. Native = naturally occurring there; introduced = brought in by humans, sometimes invasive. Both can be useful, but native species are typically the best fit for local conditions.
Other asia
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