Native species
38Species naturally occurring in India — best adapted to local climate and soil.
Edible for food + foraging
42Plants with edible parts documented in India. Always identify positively before harvest.
Medicinal traditional + clinical
19Species with documented medicinal applications. See individual plant profiles for evidence + safety.
Introduced naturalized + cultivated
4Non-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?
92 speciess — 38 native and 54 introduced. Of these, 91 are edible and 37 have medicinal uses.
What edible plants grow wild in India?
Common edible species include Alpine Sweetvetch, Amaranthus graecizans, Amaranthus polystachyus, Asiatic tearthumb, Barnyard Millet. See the Edible section above for the full list.
What medicinal plants grow in India?
37 medicinal plants catalogued for India, including Amaranthus graecizans, Asiatic tearthumb, Carex nubigena, Chinese Lespedeza, Common Vetch.
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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