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Plants of India

IN · 20.59°, 78.96°

We catalogue 42 plants documented in India 0 native and 42 introduced. Of these, 41 are edible and 13 have medicinal uses.

II

Edible for food + foraging

41

Plants with edible parts documented in India. Always identify positively before harvest.

Dandelion - Kukraundha
Dandelion - Kukraundha
Taraxacum officinale
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Darnel
Darnel
Lolium temulentum
Poaceaeedible
Eastern Prickly Pear
Eastern Prickly Pear
Opuntia compressa
Cactaceaeedible
Eel Grass
Eel Grass
Vallisneria spiralis
Alismataceaeedible
European Millet
European Millet
Panicum miliaceum
Poaceaeedible
European wild pear
European wild pear
Pyrus pyraster
edible
Golden Shower
Golden Shower
Cassia fistula
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Guinea grass Green panic grass
Guinea grass Green panic grass
Panicum maximum
edible
Gum Arabic Tree
Vachellia nilotica
Fabaceaeedible
Herb of Grace
Herb of Grace
Bacopa monnieri
Scrophulariaceaeediblemedicinal
Hybrid cattail
Typha glauca
Cyperaceaeedible
Indian Madder
Indian Madder
Rubia cordifolia
ediblemedicinal
Japanese false bindweed
Japanese false bindweed
Calystegia hederacea
edible
Lentil
Lentil
Lens culinaris
Fabaceaeedible
Lupinus hirsutus
Lupinus hirsutus
Lupinus hirsutus
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Lycium arabicum
Lycium arabicum
Lycium arabicum
Solanaceaeediblemedicinal
Mountain Ebony
Mountain Ebony
Bauhinia variegata
Fabaceaeedible
Muscadine Grape
Vitis rotundifolia
Vitaceaeedible
Pea
Pea
Pisum sativum
edible
Persian Silk Tree
Persian Silk Tree
Albizia julibrissin
edible
Prairie acacia Timbre Fernleaf Acacia
Prairie acacia Timbre Fernleaf Acacia
Acacia angustissima
edible
Radish
Radish
Raphanus sativus
ediblemedicinal
River Club-Rush
River Club-Rush
Scirpus validus
edible
Salix decipiens
Salix decipiens
Salix decipiens
Salicaceaeediblemedicinal
Sapindus marginatus
Sapindus marginatus
Sapindus marginatus
Sapindaceaeedible
Showy Sunflower
Showy Sunflower
Helianthus laetiflorus
ediblemedicinal
Siberian Yarrow
Achillea sibirica
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Siris Tree
Siris Tree
Albizia lebbeck
edible
Small Reed Mace
Small Reed Mace
Typha angustifolia
Cyperaceaeedible
Smilax aspera
Smilax aspera
Smilax aspera
ediblemedicinal
Soft Rush
Soft Rush
Juncus effusus
Juncaceaeedible
Sunberry
Sunberry
Physalis minima
Solanaceaeedible
Swamp Morning Glory
Swamp Morning Glory
Ipomoea aquatica
Convolvulaceaeedible
Sword Bean
Sword Bean
Canavalia gladiata
Fabaceaeedible
Tricolor Chrysanthemum
Tricolor Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum carinatum
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Tropical kudzu
Tropical kudzu
Pueraria pseudohirsuta
Fabaceaeedible
Vetiver
Vetiver
Chrysopogon zizanioides
edible
Wild Oats
Wild Oats
Avena fatua
Poaceaeedible
Winter Cherry
Winter Cherry
Physalis alkekengi
edible
Yellow Bristle Grass
Yellow Bristle Grass
Setaria pumila
Poaceaeedible
cultivated fenugreek
cultivated fenugreek
Trigonella corniculata
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
III

Medicinal traditional + clinical

13

Species with documented medicinal applications. See individual plant profiles for evidence + safety.

Dandelion - Kukraundha
Dandelion - Kukraundha
Taraxacum officinale
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Golden Shower
Golden Shower
Cassia fistula
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Herb of Grace
Herb of Grace
Bacopa monnieri
Scrophulariaceaeediblemedicinal
Indian Madder
Indian Madder
Rubia cordifolia
ediblemedicinal
Lupinus hirsutus
Lupinus hirsutus
Lupinus hirsutus
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Lycium arabicum
Lycium arabicum
Lycium arabicum
Solanaceaeediblemedicinal
Radish
Radish
Raphanus sativus
ediblemedicinal
Salix decipiens
Salix decipiens
Salix decipiens
Salicaceaeediblemedicinal
Showy Sunflower
Showy Sunflower
Helianthus laetiflorus
ediblemedicinal
Siberian Yarrow
Achillea sibirica
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Smilax aspera
Smilax aspera
Smilax aspera
ediblemedicinal
Tricolor Chrysanthemum
Tricolor Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum carinatum
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
cultivated fenugreek
cultivated fenugreek
Trigonella corniculata
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
IV

Introduced naturalized + cultivated

42

Non-native species established in India. Some are valuable; some are invasive. Check each plant's notes.

Dandelion - Kukraundha
Dandelion - Kukraundha
Taraxacum officinale
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Darnel
Darnel
Lolium temulentum
Poaceaeedible
Eastern Prickly Pear
Eastern Prickly Pear
Opuntia compressa
Cactaceaeedible
Eel Grass
Eel Grass
Vallisneria spiralis
Alismataceaeedible
European Millet
European Millet
Panicum miliaceum
Poaceaeedible
European wild pear
European wild pear
Pyrus pyraster
edible
Golden Shower
Golden Shower
Cassia fistula
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Golden-chain tree
Golden-chain tree
Laburnum anagyroides
Fabaceae
Guinea grass Green panic grass
Guinea grass Green panic grass
Panicum maximum
edible
Gum Arabic Tree
Vachellia nilotica
Fabaceaeedible
Herb of Grace
Herb of Grace
Bacopa monnieri
Scrophulariaceaeediblemedicinal
Hybrid cattail
Typha glauca
Cyperaceaeedible
Indian Madder
Indian Madder
Rubia cordifolia
ediblemedicinal
Japanese false bindweed
Japanese false bindweed
Calystegia hederacea
edible
Lentil
Lentil
Lens culinaris
Fabaceaeedible
Lupinus hirsutus
Lupinus hirsutus
Lupinus hirsutus
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Lycium arabicum
Lycium arabicum
Lycium arabicum
Solanaceaeediblemedicinal
Mountain Ebony
Mountain Ebony
Bauhinia variegata
Fabaceaeedible
Muscadine Grape
Vitis rotundifolia
Vitaceaeedible
Pea
Pea
Pisum sativum
edible
Persian Silk Tree
Persian Silk Tree
Albizia julibrissin
edible
Prairie acacia Timbre Fernleaf Acacia
Prairie acacia Timbre Fernleaf Acacia
Acacia angustissima
edible
Radish
Radish
Raphanus sativus
ediblemedicinal
River Club-Rush
River Club-Rush
Scirpus validus
edible
Salix decipiens
Salix decipiens
Salix decipiens
Salicaceaeediblemedicinal
Sapindus marginatus
Sapindus marginatus
Sapindus marginatus
Sapindaceaeedible
Showy Sunflower
Showy Sunflower
Helianthus laetiflorus
ediblemedicinal
Siberian Yarrow
Achillea sibirica
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Siris Tree
Siris Tree
Albizia lebbeck
edible
Small Reed Mace
Small Reed Mace
Typha angustifolia
Cyperaceaeedible
Smilax aspera
Smilax aspera
Smilax aspera
ediblemedicinal
Soft Rush
Soft Rush
Juncus effusus
Juncaceaeedible
Sunberry
Sunberry
Physalis minima
Solanaceaeedible
Swamp Morning Glory
Swamp Morning Glory
Ipomoea aquatica
Convolvulaceaeedible
Sword Bean
Sword Bean
Canavalia gladiata
Fabaceaeedible
Tricolor Chrysanthemum
Tricolor Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum carinatum
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Tropical kudzu
Tropical kudzu
Pueraria pseudohirsuta
Fabaceaeedible
Vetiver
Vetiver
Chrysopogon zizanioides
edible
Wild Oats
Wild Oats
Avena fatua
Poaceaeedible
Winter Cherry
Winter Cherry
Physalis alkekengi
edible
Yellow Bristle Grass
Yellow Bristle Grass
Setaria pumila
Poaceaeedible
cultivated fenugreek
cultivated fenugreek
Trigonella corniculata
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
V

Frequently asked

How many plants are documented in India?

42 speciess — 0 native and 42 introduced. Of these, 41 are edible and 13 have medicinal uses.

What edible plants grow wild in India?

Common edible species include Dandelion - Kukraundha, Darnel, Eastern Prickly Pear, Eel Grass, European Millet. See the Edible section above for the full list.

What medicinal plants grow in India?

13 medicinal plants catalogued for India, including Dandelion - Kukraundha, Golden Shower, Herb of Grace, Indian Madder, Lupinus hirsutus.

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.

VI

Other asia

Georgia
GE
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TR
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AE
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AF
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AM
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AZ
Bangladesh
BD
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BH
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