Macropiper excelsum. Description[edit] It is found throughout the North Island, and as far south as Okarito (43.20 °S) on the West Coast and Banks Peninsula (43.5 °S) on the east coast of the South Island. The leaves are often covered with insect holes. The images depict the variety majus which has larger and more glossy leaves than M. excelsum. The name Kawakawa in Māori refers to the bitter taste of the leaves, from kawa bitter.[1] Leaves[edit] The Kawakawa leaves are about 5–10 cm long by 6–12 cm wide; they are opposite to each other, broadly rounded with a short drawn-out tip and are heart-shaped at their bases.
Flowers[edit] The flowers are produced on greenish, erect spikes that are 2.5-7.5 cm long. Berries[edit] Each berry is the size of a small plum and egg-shaped. Uses[edit] Kawakawa leaves and fruiting spikes Kawakawa is a traditional medicinal plant of the Māori. Host people of a marae wave leaves of kawakawa to welcome guests, especially at tangi. See also[edit] New Zealand plants Notes[edit] Bone, K. Bacopa monnieri. Bacopa monnieri (waterhyssop, brahmi,[2] thyme-leafed gratiola, water hyssop, herb of grace,[2] Indian pennywort[2]) is a perennial, creeping herb native to the wetlands of southern India, Australia, Europe, Aftice, Asia, and North and South America.[2] Bacopa is an important medicinal herb used in Ayurveda, where it is also known as "Brahmi," after Brahmā, the creator God of the Hindu pantheon.
Bacopa has traditionally been employed as a neurological tonic and cognitive enhancer, and it is currently being studied for its possible neuroprotective properties.[3][4][5] Description[edit] The leaves of this plant are succulent, oblong and 4–6 millimeters thick. Leaves are oblanceolate and are arranged oppositely on the stem.
Ecology[edit] It commonly grows in marshy areas throughout India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, China, Pakistan, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Traditional uses[edit] Nomenclature[edit] Chemical constituents[edit] Pharmacology[edit] Toxicology[edit] International naming[edit] References[edit] Harmal. It is a perennial plant which can grow to about 0.8 m tall,[3] but normally it is about 0.3 m tall.[4] The roots of the plant can reach a depth of up to 6.1 m, if the soil where it is growing is very dry.[4] It blossoms between June and August in the Northern Hemisphere.[5] The flowers are white and are about 2.5–3.8 cm in diameter.[5] The round seed capsules measure about 1–1.5 cm in diameter,[6] have three chambers and carry more than 50 seeds.[5] Traditional use[edit] In Turkey, dried capsules from this plant are strung and hung in homes or vehicles to protect against "the evil eye".
[citation needed] It is widely used for protection against Djinn in Morocco (see Légey "Essai de Folklore marocain", 1926). Syrian rue Peganum harmala fruit Peganum harmala seeds as sold in Iran and Middle Eastern foods grocery store Peganum harmala Peganum harmala has been used to treat pain and to treat skin inflammations, including skin cancers.[8][9][10] Research into other potential uses[edit] Vasicine. Khat. Catha edulis (khat, qat, or "edible kat"[1]) is a flowering plant that is native to the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
Among communities from these areas, khat chewing has a history as a social custom dating back thousands of years.[2] Nomenclature[edit] Khat goes by various traditional names, such as kat, qat, ghat and chat, in its endemic regions of the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.[6][7] Accordingly, it is also known as Arabian tea in the west. In the African Great Lakes region, where Catha edulis is in some areas cultivated, it is known as miraa.[8] In South Africa, the plant is known as bushman's tea.[9] Description[edit] Cultivation and uses[edit] Qat tree, Yemen Yemeni eating qat The khat plant is known by a variety of names, such as qat and gat in Yemen, qaat and jaad in Somalia, and chat in Ethiopia.[2] It is also known as jimma in the Oromo language.
Bundles of khat, seized by the DEA in July 2006 Health effects[edit] The use of khat results in constipation. Limonia (plant) Limonia acidissima (syn. Feronia elephantum, Feronia limonia, Hesperethusa crenulata,[1] Schinus limonia) is the only species within the monotypic genus Limonia. It is native in the Indomalaya ecozone to Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and in Indochinese ecoregion east to Java and the Malesia ecoregion. Vernacular names in English include: wood-apple, elephant-apple, monkey fruit, and curd fruit; and listed below are the variety of common names in the languages of its native habitat regions. Vernacular names[edit] The common names of Limonia acidissima include: Description[edit] Limonia acidissima is a large tree growing to 9 metres (30 ft) tall, with rough, spiny bark. Uses[edit] Close-up view of fruit. Close-up view of trunk and bark. View of fruit and branching, in the Talakona forest, Chittoor District, India.
The rind of the fruit is so thick and hard it can be carved and used as a utensil such as a bowl or ashtray. Culinary[edit] Nutrition Genera taxonomy[edit] References[edit] Pomegranate. Young pomegranate trees The pomegranate /ˈpɒmɨɡrænɨt/, botanical name Punica granatum, is a fruit-bearing deciduous shrub or small tree growing between 5–8 meters (16–26 ft) tall. The pomegranate is considered to have originated in Iran and has been cultivated since ancient times.[1][2][3] Today, it is widely cultivated throughout the Mediterranean region of southern Europe, the Middle East and Caucasus region, northern Africa and tropical Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Central Asia and the drier parts of southeast Asia.[4] Introduced into Latin America and California by Spanish settlers in 1769, pomegranate is also cultivated in parts of California and Arizona.[5] In the Northern Hemisphere, the fruit is typically in season from September to February.[6] In the Southern Hemisphere, the pomegranate is in season from March to May.
Pomegranates are used in cooking, baking, juices, smoothies and alcoholic beverages, such as martinis and wine.[8] Description[edit] Cultivation[edit] Magnolia virginiana. Magnolia virginiana, most commonly known as sweetbay magnolia, or merely sweetbay (also swampbay, swamp magnolia, whitebay, or beaver tree), is a member of the magnolia family, Magnoliaceae. It was the first magnolia to be scientifically described under modern rules of botanical nomenclature, and is the type species of the genus Magnolia; as Magnolia is also the type genus of all flowering plants (magnoliophytes), this species in a sense typifies all flowering plants. Description[edit] Magnolia virginiana is an evergreen or deciduous tree to 30 m tall, native to the lowlands and swamps of the Atlantic coastal plain of the east-central and south eastern United States. Whether it is deciduous or evergreen depends on climate; it is evergreen in areas with milder winters in the south of its range (zone 7 southward), and is semi-evergreen or deciduous further north.
The flowers are creamy white, 8-14 cm diameter, with 6-15 petal-like tepals. Cultivation[edit] Chemistry[edit] Gallery[edit] Kratom. Mitragyna speciosa (ketum,[2] kratom or kratum,[3] Thai: กระท่อม) is a tropical deciduous and evergreen tree in the coffee family (Rubiaceae) native to Southeast Asia in the Indochina and Malesia floristic regions. Its leaves are used for medicinal properties. It is psychoactive, and leaves are chewed to uplift mood and to treat health problems.[4] M. speciosa is indigenous to Thailand and, despite growing naturally in the country, has been outlawed for 70 years and was originally banned because it was reducing the Thai government's tax revenue from opium distribution.[4] Taxonomy and etymology[edit] It was first formally described by the Dutch colonial botanist Pieter Korthals.
The genus was named Mitragyna by Korthals because the stigmas in the first species he examined resembled the shape of a bishop's mitre. It is botanically related to the genera Corynanthe and Uncaria and shares some similar biochemistry. Description[edit] Young M. speciosa tree Chemistry[edit] Use and Safety[edit] Kaempferia galanga. Kaempferia galanga, commonly known as kencur, aromatic ginger, sand ginger, cutcherry or resurrection lily, is a monocotyledonous plant in the ginger family, and one of four plants called galangal. It is found primarily in open areas in Indonesia, southern China, Taiwan, Cambodia and India, but is also widely cultivated throughout Southeast Asia. Culinary and medical use[edit] The plant is used as a herb in cooking in Indonesia, where it is called kencur, and especially in Javanese cuisine and Balinese cuisine. Beras kencur, which combines dried K. galanga powder with rice flour, is a particularly popular jamu herbal drink.
Its leaves are also used in the Malay rice dish, nasi ulam. Unlike the similar Boesenbergia rotunda (Thai กระชาย krachai), K. galanga is not commonly used in Thai cuisine, but can be bought as a dried rhizome or in powder form at herbal medicine stalls. It is known in Thai as proh horm (เปราะหอม) or waan horm (ว่านหอม). Similar species[edit] Pharmacology[edit] Shepherdia canadensis. The plant is a deciduous shrub found in open forests and thickets all over North America. Its northern limit is around the Arctic Circle. The shrub reaches a height of 1–4 m (3–13 feet). Fruits are extensively collected by some Canadian First Nations peoples such as Nlaka'pamux (Thompson), St'at'imc (Lillooet) and Secwepemc (Shuswap) in the province of British Columbia.
The bitter berries are not eaten directly but rather processed as sxusem ("sxushem", also xoosum/"hooshum") or "Indian ice-cream". Branches bearing fruit are hit with a stick and only the very ripe fruits that fall off are collected. A clean mat or tarpaulin is placed below the bush for collection. The berries are later placed into a great bowl that is absolutely free of oil or fat and are mixed with some sweet fruit such as raspberries. Unrelated plants in the genus Sapindus produce highly toxic saponins and share the common name soapberry with the edible Canada Buffaloberry. See also[edit] Soapberry References[edit]
Areca catechu. Areca catechu is the areca palm or areca nut palm betel palm, Filipino: bunga, Indonesia/Malay: pinang, Malayalam: അടക്ക adakka, Kannada: ಅಡಿಕೆ Adike), ( in Tamil "kamuhu" in Sinhala "Puwak" ) a species of palm which grows in much of the tropical Pacific, Asia, and parts of east Africa. The palm is believed to have originated in the Philippines. but is widespread in cultivation and is considered naturalized in southern China (Guangxi, Hainan, Taiwan, Yunnan), India, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea, many of the islands in the Pacific Ocean, and also in the West Indies.[2] Areca is derived from a local name from the Malabar Coast of India and catechu is from another Malay name for this palm, caccu.
This palm is often called the betel tree because its fruit, the areca nut, is often chewed along with the betel leaf, a leaf from a vine of the Piperaceae family. Growth[edit] Characteristics[edit] Chemical composition[edit] Guiera senegalensis. Heimia salicifolia. Heimia salicifolia is a species of flowering plant in the Loosestrife family, Lythraceae. It is native to the Americas, ranging from the southwestern United States (Texas and New Mexico) through Mexico and Central America to Argentina.[1] Common names include Shrubby Yellowcrest, Sinicuichi, Sun Opener, Willow-leaf Heimia, Sini, and Elixir of the Sun.
The plant has psychoactive and medicinal properties, and has been used for a variety of ailments by native peoples in Central America and Mexico. Isolated alkaloids[edit] Vertine, also known as cryogenine, is regarded as the primary psychoactive component and is also generally the most abundant constituent of alkaloidal extracts. Spiritual Use[edit] Use of Sinicuichi for shamanic purposes by native peoples of Central America and Mexico has been described. In the method of preparation commonly used, fresh leaves are collected, and allowed to wilt. Heimia salicifolia is not believed to be addictive. Subjective Effects[edit] References[edit] Desfontainia. Acorus calamus. Acorus calamus (also called Sweet Flag or Calamus, among many common names[1]) is a tall perennial wetland monocot of the Acoraceae family, in the genus Acorus.
In spite of common names that include the words "rush" and "sedge," it is neither a rush nor sedge.[2] The scented leaves and more strongly scented rhizomes have traditionally been used medicinally and to make fragrances, and the dried and powdered rhizome has been used as a substitute for ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg.[2][3] Names[edit] Etymology[edit] The Latin word acorus is derived from the Greek άχόρου (áchórou) of Dioscorides (note different versions of the text have different spellings).
The word άχόρου itself is thought to have been derived from the word κόρη (kóri), which means pupil (of an eye), due to the juice from the root of the plant being used as a remedy in diseases of the eye ('darkening of the pupil').[4][5][6] Botanical information[edit] Currently the taxonomic position of these forms is contested. Uses[edit] A. Preserving Ancient Knowledge. GENUS: Caesalpinia SPECIES: Sepiaria COMMON NAMES: Bois Sappan, Bonduc, Caesalpinia Septaria, Caesalpinia Decapetala, Cats Claw, Cumaseba, Kraaldoring, Liane Croc Chien, Liane Sappan, Mauritius Thorn, Mauritiusdoring, Mysore Thorn, Popoki, Pua kelekino, Sappan, Shoofly, Somalata, Ubobo-encane, Ufenisi, Ulozisi, Wait-a-bit, Yun-Shih.
Caesalpinia Sepiaria is a hardy perennial climbing vine that often resembles a shrub; it grows up to 13 feet (4 meters) tall as a shrub with individual vines growing up to 33 feet high (10 meters). It has red stems that are covered in tiny golden colored hairs and produce many small sharp thorns. The leaves are dark green on top and a lighter shade of green underneath, and can grow up 1 foot (30 cm) in length made up of many small paired leaflets; each leaflet is about 1 inch long (26 mm) by half an inch (13 mm) wide. This tropical plant first originated in India and quickly migrated to Asia where it thrived and spread throughout the continent. USDA. 2009. Ailanthus triphysa. Ailanthus triphysa (also Ailanthus malabarica) is a medium to tall evergreen rainforest tree in Asia and Australia.
The wood may be used for matchwood and plywood. The tree is known as halmaddi in India, where its resin, also called halmaddi, may be used in incense. Inappropriate extraction methods were resulting in trees dying, so by the 1990s the Indian forestry department had banned extraction. Common names in Australia include white bean and ferntop ash. Distribution[edit] It occurs in India, Sri Lanka, China, Malaysia, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam. Description[edit] Ailanthus triphysa leaves with larva of Eligma narcissus moth. Uses[edit] The wood contain various alkaloids and quassinoids, including beta-carboline,[8] and has been used for the treatment of dyspepsia, bronchitis, ophthalmia and snake bite.[9] References[edit] Further reading[edit] Database entry for Piri-Piri - Cyperus articulatus - Piri Piri - Cyperus articulatus - Piri-Piri - Cyperus articulatus - Piri Piri - Cyperus articulatus - Piri-Piri - Cyperus articulatus - Piri Piri - Cyperus articulatus.
Tabernanthe iboga. Apocynum cannabinum. Silene capensis. Galbulimima belgraveana. Nymphaea caerulea. Ilex guayusa. Maquira sclerophylla. Hippophae rhamnoides. Laurelia novae-zelandiae. Kava. Pandanus. Trachelospermum jasminoides. Bassia scoparia. Calycanthus. Polygonaceae. Celastrus paniculatus. Ipomoea violacea. Argyreia nervosa.