Flora of the Indian epic period

Sita at Ashokavana under Ashoka tree (Saraca asoca) in epic Ramayana. Hanuman is seen on the tree.

Flora of the Indian epic period can be a tool to study the antiquity of Indian epics as these do not record time scales of the incident mentioned in these. The flora of an area or of time period, refers to all plant life occurring in an area or time period, especially the naturally occurring or indigenous plant life.

Bhishma on his death-bed of arrows with the Pandavas and Krishna - Folio from the Razmnama(1761 - 1763), Persian translation of the Mahabharata, commissioned by Mughal emperor Akbar. The Pandavas are dressed in Persian armour and robes.^[1]

The ancient Sanskrit epics, the Ramayana and Mahabharata, also termed Itihāsa (History) or Mahākāvya ("Great Compositions"), refer to forest and plant life at various places. The language of these texts is the "Epic Sanskrit". The importance of forests in Indian epics can be understood from the fact that each epic devotes one book to the forests. In Mahabharata it is the Aranyaka Parva (also Vana Parva, Aranya Parva) (The Book of the Forest) which mentions the period of twelve years spent by Pandavas in exile in the forest (aranya). The divisions of Ramayana into Kandas (Books) also includes one Kanda known as Aranya Kanda – Book of the Forest. In Ramayana Kishkindha Kanda – Book of Kishkindha also discusses the geography and forestry of the region.

Man and environment

The evolution of life on earth in geological ages indicates that man evolved only a million years ago when he lived in dense forests along with other denizens. Palaeo-botanists have examined the fossils of plants found in rocks of various ages and deduced what kind of vegetation grew in those particular geological periods. Thus Dr. Birbal Sahni concluded from the fossils found in inter-trappean rocks that at that time estuarine conditions prevailed in India, and the flora belonged to the genera of plants found in London clay. These plants must have migrated to India by way of the Tethys Sea which stretched along the northern edge of the Gondwana land before the uplift of the Himalayas. It has also been proved that Kashmir and Rajasthan once had a tropical forest, which later receded as a result of glaciation and the upthrust of the Himalayas. Prior to this upheaval, the Ganges drained northwards into the Sindhu. By this time man had already been evolved.^[2]

The ancient and prehistoric man has lived in symbiosis with the environment. In the neolithic age, primitive man lived in dense forests, on trees or in natural caves, and subsisted on leaves, fruits, and roots of plants. He used fire for keeping off the dangerous animals of the forest.^[3]

In Geological Ages: palaeo-botanical evidence testifies to the fact that there were dense forests in India in the Permian period, 250 million years ago. A fossilized trunk of a tree found in the Raniganj coal-field is nearly 30 m long and 75 cm in diameter at the butt-end and 35 cm at the top-end. It has been named by Dr. Birbal Sahni as Dadoxylon, an extinct genus of plants. Fossil wood is found in several places in Madhya Pradesh and in the Siwalik hills along the Himalayas.^[4]

Man was evolved in the beginning of Pleistocene Age, only about a million years ago. At this time India had thick forests except in Rajasthan and parts of Punjab which lay buried under a swamp, the remnant of the receding Tethys Sea.

In Historical Times: Man progressed rapidly in historical times, and began to live in organized societies, constructed shelters using wood bark, etc. and soon took to farming and domestication of animals. Archaeological evidence shows that the Rajasthan swamps existed till as late as 4000 BC, when Mohenjodaro culture flourished in the outskirts of Lothal in Gujarat. In these marshes grew stout reeds which were used by Chalcolithic people to cover dead bodies. The adjoining forest contained rhinoceroses and crocodiles of which we find replicas on the seals. At this time trees must have been felled by axes of flint and bronze, as iron had not yet been used. After the disappearance of this civilization-the reasons for which are still unknown-the Aryans started coming into India, from 2000 BC. They introduced the use of iron for making axes, javelins, ploughs, etc.^[5]

There is evidence that at this period a Dravidian civilization of a high order flourished in the country, with its roots in the far south, which apparently lived in consonance with the thick extensive forest and its wildlife. The Aryans were primarily pastoral people. To construct shelters for themselves and for their domesticated animals they cleared the forests wherever they went. But even so, being worshippers of Nature, they preferred for their abodes, and even for their educational centres, sylvan surroundings and inspiring landscape. It is in such setting that the Vedas, the Upanishads and the Aranyakas were composed which sing the glory of the Creator and lay down recepts of conduct for man to live righteously.^[5]

The forest of Khandava near Yamuna, being burnt by Arjuna and Krishna

Human population at this period was very small, and forests were still plentiful. When the great epic Ramayana was written there were still dense forests in Naimisharanya, Chitrakoot, Dandakaranya, and Panchavati which abounded in wildlife. But by the time the Mahabharata was compiled, onslaughts had been made on forests and we read of the burning of the Khandava Vana. To arrest such vandalism, which was adversely affecting the life of the people, some wise ancestor of ours must have declared cutting of trees a sin and planting and protecting them an act of piety. Several useful species of plants were thus saved from extinction, such as the Banyan, the Pipal, the Bel, etc. Even then some disappeared in course of time from particular areas, such as the Kadam, the Ashok, and the Bamboos from Vrindavan. ^[6]

The chronicles of Chinese pilgrims mention dense Indian forests in birthplace of Lord Krishna. Records relating to the invasion of Alexander the great in 326 BC mention the existence of almost impenetrable forests along the Indus. Later, in Kautilya's times protection of forests, planting Of new species of trees, and preservation of wildlife were considered desirable, and a special officer was appointed for the purpose. By the time of Emperor Ashoka, heavy inroads had already been made into the forests and their absence begun to be feft. Therefore, as his rock edicts record, this far-sighted monarch ordered that useful trees be planted along the roads and on camping grounds. He also encouraged the cultivation of exotic medicinal plants.^[7]

Shershah Suri planted trees along the Delhi-Patna Highway. The Mughals were not forest-minded as such, but they created exquisite gardens. Emperor Jahangir introduced the famous Chinar tree in the valley of Kashmir which has now become synonymous with Kashmir. The Mughals also maintained large Shikargahs for hunting. The Ain-e-Akbari records that elephants roamed in the forests as far west as Mhow near Indore. But a century later Aurangzeb found only scrub forests near Burhanpur. The Marathas and the Gonds planted mangoes and other useful trees along their marching routes and halting places, some of which are still surviving.^[7]

The remains of extinct creatures discovered in the upper layers of the Sivaliks range and in other parts of India give us a glimpse of the wonderful wealth of animal life that flourished here in the tertiary period. Mastodons and great herds of elephants of many species trumpeted and tramped through the swamps and reedy forests of this region. With them lived hippopotamuses, rhinoceroses of various species, and a colossal four-horned ruminants, the Sivatherium. The one-horned rhinoceros, as born out by the seals of the Harappan culture, was once found as far west as Rajasthan.^[8]

The rich heritage of wildlife came down to us through the ages mainly because of the deep-rooted Indian tradition of compassion for all life in general. Moreover, animals have been closely associated with our folklore and legends. Kautilya's Arthashastra, written in the 3rd century BC refers to definite administrative arrangements for preservation of wildlife. Special areas, called Abhayaranyas, were set aside for their protection. Emperor Ashoka introduced game laws, ordained the preservation of forests, and prohibited killing of animals.^[9]

Carbon dating

Carbon dating method can be used to determine the age of living trees in the past. This technique will give age of a tree when it became dead wood. It has become thus possible from specimens of wood, charcoal, etc., found in excavations by archaeologists to fix period when a particular prehistoric culture flourished. The Indian cultures have been dated as under:^[10]

Vedic culture

India was one of the foremost developed countries in ancient times. Learned persons of vedic culture were quite aware regarding unimaginable obligation of plants for the very sustenance of animal life. Though not scientifically proven at that time, they knew that the air we breath remains pleasant by surrounding plants. There are a number of verses in ancient literature depicting this generosity of vegetable kingdom. They have also realised that there is no conduct of life where the plant kingdom does not make its contribution like food, fuel, shelter, fiber, fodder and medicine. No wonder that many such plants species have been revered as God.^[11]

Medicinal plants

The ancient scholars in Sanskrit language studied the plants mainly for medicinal purposes. From time immemorial many medicinal plants are well known in this country. Use of herbal medicine can be traced to the remote past. One of the oldest treaties in the world is Rigveda (4500 BC-1000 BC) where healing properties of some herbs are mentioned in the form of sonnets, which were often recited in religious rituals. Later on a special faculty was developed known as Ayurveda, mostly dealing with human philosophy of health including utilization of medicinal plants for restoring normal physical fitness.^[11]

Sida acuta Burm

Sida rhombifolia Linn

Interestingly enough there used to be regular rapport between sages of various communities interested in miraculous effects of herbal medicine. There are records in ancient scripts regarding periodic conferences, seminars and also workshops in selected areas where exchange of knowledge was often manifested. Even it was mentioned that women scholars like Maitrai, Gargi contributed some knowledge about medicinal plants and their maintenance. During the glorious days of Buddha philosophy (600 BC- 400 AD) there was friendly mingling of therapeutic values of plants, through religious norms were different. Scholars practicing medicine were quite familiar with wild medicinal plants growing in jungles.^[11]

The further advancement of this process was materialization of Susruta Samhita and Charaka Samhita (1000 BC) which incorporates comprehensive chapters on the therapeutic use of various plant species. These treaties deal with about 700 drugs, some of these are not indigenous to Indian subcontinent. The invaluable knowledge of medicine was composed in lyrical sutras (Sonnets) which often reveal valuable information in few words.^[11]

Later on number of new plant species were added to the then known pharmacopoeia of indigenous medicinal plants. Attempts were also made to identify the required medicinal plant species by observing their exomorphic characters. For example, plant species like Bala (Sida acuta Burm.); Atibala (Sida rhombifolia Linn.); Nagabala (Sida spinosa Linn.) and Bhubala (Sida veronicaefolia Lam.) were named and grouped together under one class. In modern classification all these belong to Hibiscus (Malvaceae) family. Indeed, Indian scholars do have realised the importance of correct identity of plants and that the knowledge of diagnostic external morphological characters are essential requirements for that purpose. But they could not imagine the use of Binomial system of nomenclature of the plants and thereby fixing absolute identity of the concerned plant material. Instead of that they have started giving various names to the same plant species by considering broad features like shape, color of flowers, smell, taste, along with local names based on plant profile and mythological folklores in various regional languages. For example, Krisna Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum L.) have 52 different names in various Indian dialects. Such trend of thinking became prelude to more confusion while undertaking any research project on indigenous Indian plants.^[11]

Puranic literature

Puranic cosmography divides our earth into seven concentric islands. They are separated by the seven encircling seas. Seven intermediate oceans consist of salt-water, sugarcane juice, wine, ghee, curd, milk and water respectively.,^[12][13] All these dvipas are named after trees/plants in Sanskrit. The seven dvipas are:

Jambu leaves (Syzygium cumini)

1.Jambu (जम्बुद्वीप) - Continent Jambudvipa named after Jambū (जंबू) trees, Syzygium cumini (Indian Blackberry), is also known as Sudarshanadvipa, forms the innermost concentric island in the above scheme. The fruits of the Jambu tree are said to be as large as elephants and when they become rotten and fall upon the crest of the mountains, a river of juice is formed from their expressed juice. The river so formed is called Jambunadi (Jambu river) and flows through Jambudvipa, whose inhabitants drink its waters. Insular continent Jambudvipa is said to comprise nine varsas (zones) and eight significant mountains. The insular continent Jambudvipa forms the innermost concentric island in the scheme of continents. Jambudvipa includes nine countries (varṣa) and nine mountains. The land of Illa-vrta lies at the center of Jambudivipa at whose center is located Mount Meru.

The Plaksha (Ficus religiosa) leafe

2.Plaksha (प्लक्षद्वीप) - Plaksa is a possible Sanskrit term for the sacred fig of which botanical name is Ficus religiosa. According to Macdonell and Keith (1912), it rather denotes the wavy-leaved Fig tree (Ficus infectoria). The continent Plaksha is said to be along the western border of Jambudvipa. Vishnu Purana says that the Plaksha continent encircles Jambudvipa. In Hindu texts, the Plaksa tree is associated with the source of the Sarasvati River. The Skanda Purana states that the Sarasvati originates from the water pot of Brahma and flows from Plaksa on the Himalayas. According to Vamana Purana 32.1-4, the Sarasvati was rising from the Plaksa tree (Pipal tree).^[14] Plaksa Pra-sravana denotes the place where the Sarasvati appears.^[15] In the Rigveda Sutras, Plaksa Pra-sravana refers to the source of the Sarasvati.^[16]

Śalmalī (शाल्मली) (Bombax ceiba) tree leaves

3.Salmalidvipa (शाल्मलीद्वीप) - The continent derives its name from Śalmalī (शाल्मली) tree in sanskrit with Botanical name Bombax ceiba, commonly known as cotton tree or tree cotton. This tropical tree has a straight tall trunk and its leaves are deciduous in winter. Red flowers with 5 petals appear in the spring before the new foliage. Salmalidvipa is mentioned in Puranas as parvata touching the Ikshurasoda samudra.

4.Kushadvipa (कुशद्वीप) - The continent derives its name from Kusha (कुश) grass, which has Botanical name Desmostachya bipinnata. The author of Vayu Purana uses the name Kumuda-dvipa for Kusha-dvipa (Vayu I.48.34-36). 'Kumuda' is also a Puranic name of a mountain forming the northern buttress of the Mount Meru (i.e. Pamirs). In anterior Epic Age, Kumuda was the name given to high table-land of the Tartary located to north of the Himalaya range from which the Aryan race may have originally pushed their way southwards into Indian peninsula and preserved the name in their traditions as a relic of old mountain worship.^[17] Thus, the Kumuda-dvipa lay close north to the Pamirs. Lying in the Transoxiana (in Saka-dvipa), this Komuda or Kumuda-dvipa of the Puranic texts is often identified as the ancient Kamboja land which corresponds to the Parama Kamboja referred to in the Sabha Parava of Mahabharata.

The Krauncha - Snowy Egret, Egretta thula

5.Kraunchadvipa (क्रौंचद्वीप) - The continent derives its name from Sanskrit word Krauncha (क्रौंच) used for Curlew-heron. Krauncha-Vyuha (क्रौंच व्‍युह) has been mentioned in Mahabharata war as a military formation on a pattern supposed to resemble a heron. In the Krauncha island, there is a mountain called Maha-krauncha that is a mine of all kinds of gems. Mahabharata mentions Kinnaras and Vidyadharas living in Krauncha mountain (in Himachal Pradesh ) in the Himalayas (9,16).

Flower, fruit & leaves of Tectona grandis (Shāka) tree

6.Shakadvipa (शाकद्वीप) - The continent derives its name from Shāka (शाक) tree, Botanical name Tectona grandis, a tall deciduous tree with rounded crown. Surrounded by the sea of whey is Shakdvipa with an extent of thirty-two lakh Yojans. It has a huge tree of Shaka, hence its name. With a sweet fragrance of this tree, the whole island emits a pleasant scent. The ruler of this island, Medhatithi was also a son of Priyvrata. He too had seven sons- Purojav, Manojav, Pawamana, Dhumranik, Chitraref, Bahurup and Vishwdhar. They were made the rulers of the seven divisions of the island. People of the island use Pranayama to weaken their Rajoguna and Tamoguna, and worship Hari (Vishnu) in Vayu (form) through meditation.^[18] Visnu Purana: "Shakdvipa located inside Chira sea and Shakdwipis are friends"^[19] Mahabharata 6.604 = Bhagavad Gita 5.20.3-42: "In Shakdvipa, caste system is same as Jambudvipa. There was four caste in Shakdvipa 1. Maga 2. Mushus 3. Manus 4 Mandaka" ^[20]

Pushkara (Nelumbo nucifera) flower

7.Pushkaradvipa (पुष्करद्वीप) - The continent derives its name from plant named Pushkara (पुष्कर), Botanical name Nelumbo nucifera, a handsome aquatic herb, Native to Greater India and commonly cultivated in water gardens, the lotus is the national flower of India and Vietnam. It is Native of China, Japan also. Grown throughout warmer parts of India. Pushkaradvipa may probably refer to Pushkar, a town in the state of Rajasthan in India. Hindus believe that the gods released a swan with a lotus in its beak and let it fall on earth where Brahma would perform a grand yagna. The place where the lotus fell was called Pushkar.

Origin of Saka

According to Hukum Singh Pawar (Pauria) Some writers think that Saka (Scythian) is a Sanskrit word which means Sagwan or Teak (Tectona grandis), generally grown in monsoon region, the shape of which and that of its river deltas was like that of teak leaf.,^[21] and the people popularly known as Sakas used to be the inhabitants of this land. S. M. Ali ^[22] identifies Shakadvipa with land mass in the south-east of Meru ^[23] which falls climatically in the monsoon region and teak is its distinctive tree in its natural and artificial vegetation. The Sapta Sindhu, original home of Aryans, in the south of Meru, we find that the country fulfills all the requisites of Shakadvipa, viz, teak leaf shape of the country or the area abundant in teak vegetation, as well as that of the deltas of Sarasvati and Indus river. The Mahabharata's reading, alluded to above, that there was Sakala-dvipa, the name of which is attributed to the Sakas, in the Sapta Sindhu, evidently carries much weight. There is every possibility that the people of Sapta Sindhu, as a whole, might have besides their eponymous and ethnoyms, been known as Sakas also.^[24]

Flora of Ramayana epic

The Indian epic Ramayana discusses the Flora and fauna of the places visited by Rama. Ramayana in Bala Kanda Sarga 24 mentions the crossing over of the River Ganges, sage Vishvamitra sails Rama and Laxmana through its confluence with River Sarayu, which flows at their capital Ayodhya. The sage leads them to a deadly forest on the other bank of River Ganges and narrates about the provinces Malada and Karusha. Here shlokas 12-18 mention about the forest trees and plants of the region.

Aranya Kanda Sarga 11 mentions the Stories of Sages Mandakarani and Agastya. It depicts the propitious nature of Agastya’s hermitage. Here shlokas 46, 49, 74-76 mention many trees and plants. Aranya Kanda Sarga 15 mentions about Panchavati situated on Godavari River in Nasik district in Maharashtra. Here shlokas 12-18 mention the biodiversity of the area around Pampa Lake. Aranya Kanda Sarga 73 writes how Kabandha extols Pampa Lake and details Rama about the course to be adopted to proceed to Mt. Rishyamuka to befriend Sugreeva. He details about Matanga hermitage where shlokas 2-5 describe a large number of trees.

Ramayan-Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1 gives a description of Pampa Lake and writes about many forest trees in shlokas 73-83. In Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 40, Sugreeva orders vanara-s to search east under the leadership of Vinata, a mighty vanara. Here Sugreeva commissioning Vinata explains the topography and geography of Eastern side of the Jambudvipa, where trees have been mentioned in shlokas 39, 53 and 56. In Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 42, Sugreeva sends troops to west side to search for Sita. Describing the various provinces like Surashtra, Balhika and Chandrachitra (Mathura), Western Ocean, River Sindhu and magnificent mountains that are situated at the northwest of India, cities like Murachi, Jatapura, Avanti and Angalepa and also the ocean down south to it, namely the present Arabian Sea and almost up to Persian provinces, he orders vanara troops to return within one month's time. Here shlokas 7, 8, 11, 12, 13,46 mention forest trees. In Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 43, Sugreeva sends troops to north in search of Sita. He gives an account of the snowy regions and provinces of northern side and asks them to search in the places of Yavana, Kuru, and Daradas etc., civilisations. Sugreeva specially informs them about a divine province called Uttara Kuru and a heavenly mountain called Mt. Soma on which Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva make sojourn for its sacredness. Here shlokas 13, 17 and 37 describe the forest trees.

The identification of these species may prove to be great tool in identifying those places and writing of history. We produce here the names of plants and trees in Sanskrit language, their botanical names, local Hindi or English names and Sargas (Chapters) in which forests and tree species have been mentioned.

List of Plants A-L in Ramayana

Sanskrit name of plant (Devanagari)	Botanical name	Indian names	Indian epic	Sarga	Shloka	Location in epics	Habit	Present Habitat
Agnimukha (अग्निमुख)	Semecarpus anacardium	Hindi:Bhilawa, Bhela, Bhallaataka English:Marking nut, Oriental cashee	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 73	3.73.5	Matanga hermitage	Moderate size Deciduous tree	Found in the outer Himalayas, Common in dry or moist deciduous forests
Ankola (अन्कोल)	Alangium salvifolium	Ankola	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.80	Pampa Lake	Tall thorny tree	Found in India, Western Africa, Madagascar, Southern Asia, Philippines and tropical Australia, and the Pacific Islands
Arjuna (अर्जुन)	Terminalia arjuna	Indian:Arjuna, Arjunasaadaddaa, Sanmadat, Vellamarda, Sadaru, Kahu, Shardul	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.81	Pampa Lake	A large evergreen tree	Indigenous in Africa and Indo-Malaysia region. Cultivated all over India
Ashoka (अशोक)	Saraca asoca	Ashoka	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.79	Pampa Lake	A middle sized evergreen tree	Cultivated ingargens throughout India
Ashoka (अशोक)	Saraca asoca	Banjuldruma	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 11	3.11.74	Agastya’s hermitage
Ashoka (अशोक)	Saraca indica	Ashoka	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 15	3.15.17	Panchavati
Ashoka (अशोक)	Saraca asoca	Ashoka	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 73	3.73.4	Matanga hermitage
Ashoka (अशोक)	Saraca asoca	Ashoka	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 73	3.73.5	Matanga hermitage
Ashvakarna (अश्वकर्ण)	Vateria indica	Hindi:Dhupa, Ralla English:Indian Copal, White dammar, Piney varnish	Ramayan	Bala Kanda Sarga 24	1.24.15	Malada and Karusha provinces	A large, elegant, evergreen tree	Western India, chiefly in evergreen forests, but also occasionally along rivers in deciduous forests
Ashwakarna (अश्वकर्ण)	Vateria indica		Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 15	3.15.18	Panchavati
Aśvattha (अश्वत्थ)	Ficus religiosa	Pipal, Pimpalla, Bodhi	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 73	3.73.3	Matanga hermitage	A large or middle sized deciduous tree	Sub-Himalayan forests, Bengal, Madhya Pradesh. Planted elsewhere
Badari (बदरी)	Zizyphus mauritiana	Indian: Ber, Bora	Ramayan	Bala Kanda Sarga 24	1.24.16	Malada and Karusha	A small tree or large shrub usually armed	Common in hotter parts of India, cultivated in gardens or found wild in waste places
Banjula (वञ्जुल)	Saraca asoca	Ashoka	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.78	Pampa Lake
Bansha (बांस)	Dendrocalamus strictus	Bamboo, bansalochana	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 15	3.15.21	Panchavati	Giant clumping bamboo	Found from the Indian subcontinent throughout Southeast Asia
Bilva (बिल्वा)	Aegle marmelos	Hindi:Bel, English Bael fruit tree	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.78	Pampa Lake	A middle sized slender aromatic armed tree	Indigenous to dry forests on hills and plains of central and southern India, southern Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand. It is cultivated throughout India, as well as in Sri Lanka, northern Malay Peninsula, Java and in the Philippines.
Bilva (बिल्वा)	Aegle marmelos	Bel	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 11	3.11.74	Agastya’s hermitage
Bilva (बिल्वा)	Aegle marmelos	Bel	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 11	3.11.74	Agastya’s hermitage
Bilva (बिल्वा)	Aegle marmelos	Bel	Ramayan	Bala Kanda Sarga 24	1.24.15	Malada and Karusha
Champaka (चम्पक)	Michelia champaca	Champa	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.78	Pampa Lake	A large or middle sized evergreen tree	Native to South Asia and Southeast Asia.
Champaka (चम्पक)	Michelia champaca	-	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 15	3.15.17	Panchavati
Chandana (चंदन)	Santalum album	Indian:Chandana, English:Sandalwood	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.82	Pampa Lake	A small or middle sized evergreen semi-parasitic tree	Occurring in semi-arid areas from India to the South Pacific and the northern coast of Australia. Originally endemic to eastern Indonesia, northern Australia and tropical areas of the Indian peninsula. It is now indigenous to deciduous, dry forests of China, India, Hawaii, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, the Philippines and Northwestern Australia, although the extent of human dispersal to these regions is not known.
Chandana (चंदन)	Santalum album	Sandalwood	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 15	3.15.18	Panchavati
Chūta (चूत)	Mangifera indica	Mango	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.80	Pampa Lake	A middle sized evergreen tree	A common tree all over India cultivated for its delicious fruits
Chūta (चूत)	Mangifera indica	Indian: Aam, Aamba, Aamra, Amb English:Mango	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 15	3.15.17	Panchavati
Chūta (चूत)	Mangifera indica	Mango	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 73	3.73.3	Matanga hermitage
Devadaru (देवदारु)	Cedrus deodara	Deodar trees	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 43	4-43-13	Himalayas	It is a large evergreen coniferous tree reaching 40-50 m tall, exceptionally 60 m, with a trunk up to 3 m diameter. It has a conic crown with level branches and drooping branchlets	Native to the western Himalayas in eastern Afghanistan, northern Pakistan, north-central India (Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Kashmir), southwesternmost Tibet and western Nepal.
Devasakha (देवसख)	-	-	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 43	4-43-17	Himalayas
Dhanva (धन्व)	Mimusops elengi	Bakulla	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 73	3.73.4	Matanga hermitage	A small to large sized evergreen tree	Found in tropical forests in South Asia, South east Asia & Northern Australia. In India found throughout in wet, damp and marshy areas
Dhava (धव)	Anogeissus latifolia	Hindi: Dhavda, Bakli , Dhau , Dhawa, Dhawra, Dhaora English: Axlewood, Thai:Takhian-nu, Vietnamese:Raam	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.81	Pampa Lake	A small to medium-sized tree	Native to the India, Nepal, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka
Dhava (धव)	Anogeissus latifolia	Dhawada	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 15	3.15.18	Panchavati
Dhava (धव)	Anogeissus latifolia	Dhawada	Ramayan	Bala Kanda Sarga 24	1.24.15	Malada and Karusha
Hintāla (हिन्ताल)	Cycas circinalis	Hindi:Jangli madan mast ka phool, Malayalam: Eentu, Eentinpana	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.83	Pampa Lake	A moderate sized beautiful palm	Growing naturally throughout south India
Jambū (जंबू)	Syzygium cumini	Indian:Jāmun, Jambul, English:Jambolan, Black Plum	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 73	3.73.3	Matanga hermitage	A large evergreen tree	Throughout India
Kadamba (कदंब)	Anthocephalus cadamba	Kadamba	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 73	3.73.4	Matanga hermitage	A large evergreen tropical tree	Native to South and Southeast Asia
Karavira (करवीर)	Nerium indicum	Kannhera	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 73	3.73.4	Matanga hermitage	An evergreen shrub or small tree	It is native to a broad area from Morocco and Portugal eastward through the Mediterranean region and southern Asia to Yunnan in southern parts of China.
Karnikara (कर्णिकार)	Cassia fistula	Hindi: Amaltas English:Golden Shower, Indian laburnum, Drumstick tree	Ramayana	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.73	Pampa Lake	A medium-sized deciduous tree	Native to southern Asia, from southern Pakistan east through India to Myanmar and south to Sri Lanka.
Karnikāra (कर्णिकार)	Cassia fistula	Amaltas	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 40	4-40-56	Udaya Mountain
Karnikāra (कर्णिकार)	Cassia fistula	Amaltas	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 73	3.73.3	Matanga hermitage
Kāsha (काश)	Saccharum spontaneum	Kans grass	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 15	3.15.22	Panchavati	A perennial grass, growing up to three meters in height.	Native to south Asia.
Ketaka (केतक)	Pandanus tectorius	-	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.81	Pampa Lake	A tree that grows to 4–14 metres	Occurring from near Port Macquarie in New South Wales to northern Queensland, Australia and Indonesia east through the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean to Hawaii
Ketaka (केतक)	Pandanus tectorius	-	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 42	4.42.7 & 4.42.11	Surashtra, Bahlika and Chandrachitra provinces	-	-
Ketaka (केतक)	Pandanus tectorius	-	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 42	4.42.11	Cities Murachi, Jatapura, Avanti and Angalepa	-	-
Ketakī (केतकी)	Pandanus tectorius	Kewada	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.77	Pampa Lake	-	-
Ketakī (केतकी)	Pandanus tectorius	Kewda	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 15	3.15.17	Panchavati	A densely branched shrub rarely erect	Seacoast of Indian Peninsula, Port Macquarie in New South Wales to northern Queensland, Australia and Indonesia east through the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean to Hawaii
Khadira (खदिर)	Acacia catechu	Hindi: Khair, Khadira English: Cutch, Catechu, Cachou, Black Cutch	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 15	3.15.18	Panchavati	A moderate sized deciduous, thorny tree	It is found in Asia, China, North Africa, Naturalized in all drier parts of India.
Kharjūra (खर्जूर)	Phoenix dactylifera	Hindi:खजूर, Pindakhajur, English:Date Palm	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 15	3.15.16	Panchavati	A medium-sized tree	Originated somewhere in the desert oases of northern Africa, and perhaps also southwest Asia. Cultivated in many parts of India.
Kichaka Venu (कीचक वेणू)	Bambusa arundinacea	English:Spiny bamboo, Hindi:Kaantaa baans (काँटा बांस)	Mahabharata	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 43	4.43.37	Where River Sailoda flows	A graceful spinous perennial erect herb	Wild throughout India especially in hill forests.
Kimshuka (किंशुक)	Butea monosperma	Indian: Palas, Dhak, Khakara, Kakracha English:Flame of the Forest, Bastard tree, Parrot Tree	Ramayana	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.75	Pampa Lake	A medium-sized deciduous tree with somewhat crooked trunk	Native to tropical southern Asia, from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and western Indonesia. Common Throughout India
Kinshuka (किंशुक)	Butea monosperma	Palas	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.82	Pampa Lake
Kinshuka (किंशुक)	Butea monosperma	Palas	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 15	3.15.18	Panchavati
Kovidāra (कोविदार)	Bauhinia variegata	Kachanār	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.80	Pampa Lake	A small to medium-sized tree	Dry forests in India
Kukubha (ककुभ)	Terminalia arjuna	Arjuna	Ramayan	Bala Kanda Sarga 24	1.24.15	Malada and Karusha	A large evergreen tree	Indigenous in Africa and Indo-Malaysia region. Cultivated all over India
Kurantaka (कुरण्टक)	Barleria prionitis	Hindi:Vajradanti, Koraanti-piwali, Katsareya	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.80	Pampa Lake	A much branched prickly shrub with yellow flowers	Occurs throuout the hotter parts of India. A common undershrub occasionally found wild but generally cultivated for hedge or ornamental purpose
Kurvaka (कुरवक)	Lawsonia inermis	Hindi:Mehandi, Mendee English:Henna, Hina, Egyptian privet	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.82	Pampa Lake	A globrous much branched shrub or small tree	It is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, southern Asia, and northern Australasia in semi-arid zones. Cultivated and naturalized all over India for its leaves
Kusha (कुश)	Desmostachya bipinnata	Darbha, Kusha	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 15	3.15.22	Panchavati	A tall tufted perennial grass	Throughout India in hot and dry places
Kūṭaśālmalī (कूटशाल्मली)	Ceiba pentandra	Kapok tree	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 40	4.40.39	Eastern side of the Jambudvipa	The tree grows to 70 m tall, has a very substantial trunk up to 3 m in diameter with buttresses. The trunk and many of the larger branches are densely crowded with very large, robust simple thorns	Native to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, northern South America, and (as the variety C. pentandra var. guineensis) to tropical west Africa.
Lakuch (लकुच)	Artocarpus hirsutus	Hindi: Vadahar, English:Wild jack, Malayalam :Ayani, Aanjili	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 15	3.15.18	Panchavati	An evergreen tall tree	In evergreen forests of Western Ghats, also cultivated for timber
Lodhra (लोध्र)	Symplocos racemosa	Indian:Lodhra, Lodh, English:Lodhra tree, Cinchona	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.79	Pampa Lake	A middle sized evergreen tree or shrub	China, South Asia, Throughout N.E.India, Occasionally in Konkan along river sides and hill slopes
Lodhra (लोध्र)	Symplocos racemosa	Indian:Lodhra, Lodh, English:Lodhra tree, Cinchona	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 43	4.43.13	Himalayas	A middle sized evergreen tree or shrub	China, South Asia, Throughout N.E.India, Occasionally in Konkan along river sides and hill slopes

List of Plants M-Z in Ramayana

Sanskrit name of plant (Devanagari)	Botanical name	Indian names	Indian epic	Sarga	Shloka	Location in epics	Habit	Present Habitat
Mādhavi (माधवी)	Gaertnera racemosa	Indian:Vāsantī, Madhumalati, Haladvel, Madahavilataa	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.77	Pampa Lake	A large handsome evergreen climbing shrub	Found throughout the warmer parts of Maharashtra, Konkan, Karnataka, and other parts of India
Madhuka (मधूका)	Madhuca indica	Mahuwa, Oriya: Mahuli (ମହୁଲି)	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 11	3.11.74	Agastya’s hermitage	An Indian tropical, middle sized to large deciduous tree	Found largely in the central and north Indian plains and forests, forests of western India, and Konkan
Madhūka (मधूका)	Madhuca indica	Mahuwa	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.78	Pampa Lake
Mālatī (मालती)	Jasminum sambac	Common names include Arabian Jasmine, Full (فل) (Arabic),Jaai/( ଜାଇ) (Oriya), Bel/Beli (Bengali), Mogra (Hindi and Marathi), Mallikā (Sanskrit), Kampupot, Melati (Malay and Indonesian Language), Sampaguita (Filipino), Mallepuvvu (Telugu), Mallikaipu (Tamil), dundu Mallige (Kannada) and Kaliyan (Urdu).	Ramayana	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.76	Pampa Lake	A large scrambling or twining shrub	Native to southeast and southern Asia, in Indonesia, the Philippines, India, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.
Malati (मालती)	Jasminum grandiflorum	Indian: Chameli, Jati, English:Common Jasmine, Spanish Jasmine	Ramayana	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.76	Pampa Lake	A large scrambling or twining shrub	Native of N.H. Himalayas, wildly grown throughout India
Mallikā (मल्लिका)	Jasminum grandiflorum	Chameli	Ramayana	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.76	Pampa Lake	a scandent or sub-erect woody perennial shrub	Cultivated as an ornamental shrub throughout India
Muchukunda (मुचुकुंद)	Pterospermum suberifolium	Indian:Muchukunda, Muchakunda	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.81	Pampa Lake	A small to medium size tree	Found in forests of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
Nāga (नाग)	Mesua ferrea	Indian:Nāgachampa, Naagakeshara, Naagachaafaa, English:Mesua, Ceylon ironwood, Indian rose chestnut, Cobra's saffron or locally, Penaga Lilin, Na (Sinhalese) or Nahar/Nahor	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.78	Pampa Lake	A middle or large size evergreen tree with short trunk	It is native to tropical Sri Lanka but also cultivated in southern Nepal, Indochina, and the Malay Peninsula. Found in Assam, eastern Himalayas, West Bengal, eastern and Western Ghats.
Nāga (नाग)	Mesua ferrea	Nāgachampa	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.83	Pampa Lake
Nāga (नाग)	Mesua ferrea	Nāgachampa	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 73	3.73.4	Matanga hermitage
Naktamāla (नक्तमाल)	Pongamia pinnata	Indian:Karanja, kiramal, Kidamar, English: Indian beech, Pongamia oil tree	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.82	Pampa Lake	A middle sized glabrous tree	Originated in India and is found throughout Asia. native of western ghats. Found all over India on banks of rivers and streams
Naktamāla (नक्तमाल)	Pongamia pinnata	Karanj	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 73	3.73.4	Matanga hermitage
Nārikela (नारिकेल)	Cocos nucifera	Coconut Palm	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 42	4.42.11	Cities Murachi, Jatapura, Avanti and Angalepa	A large palm, growing to 30 m tall	Throughout the tropics
Nīla (नील)	Ficus bengalensis	Plaksha, Bengal fig, Indian fig, East Indian fig, Indian Banyan or simply Banyan, also borh, nyagrodha and wad or Vad/Vat	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.79	Pampa Lake	A very large tree with many aerial roots	Endemic to Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. Found in Sub-Himalayas tract and western peninsula, planted elsewhere.
Nīla (नील)	Ficus bengalensis	Banyan	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 73	3.73.4	Matanga hermitage
Nīpa (नीप)	Barringtonia racemosa	Indian:Samudraphalla, sadphali, Nivar, English:Small Indian Oak	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 15	3.15.18	Panchavati	A moderate or small size tree, with brown, somewhat fibrous bark	Western sea coast of India
Nyagrodha (न्यग्रोध)	Ficus bengalensis	Banyan	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 73	3.73.3	Matanga hermitage
Padma (पद्म)	Nelumbo nucifera	Hindi:Kamal, English:Indian lotus, sacred lotus, bean of India, or simply lotus	Ramayana	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.76	Pampa Lake	A handsome aquatic herb	Native of China, Japan, and India. Grown throughout warmer parts of India
Padmaka (पद्मक)	Prunus cerasoides	Himalayan wild cherry	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.79	Pampa Lake		Found in East Asia.Its range extends in the Himalayas from Himachal Pradesh in India to southwest China and Burma.
Padmaka (पद्मक)	Prunus cerasoides	Himalayan wild cherry	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 43	4.43.13	Himalayas		Found in East Asia.Its range extends in the Himalayas from Himachal Pradesh in India to southwest China and Burma.
Panasa (पनस)	Artocarpus heterophyllus	Indian:Hindi: Kat-hal (कटहल), Oriya: Panasa(ପଣସ), Phannasa, English: Jack-fruit	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 11	3.11.74	Agastya’s hermitage	A large evergreen tree	Native to parts of South and Southeast Asia. Indigenous to India, grows wild in Western Ghats.
Panasa (पनस)	Artocarpus heterophyllus	Jackfruit	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 15	3.15.16	Panchavati
Panasa (पनस)	Artocarpus heterophyllus	Jackfruit	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 73	3.73.3	Matanga hermitage
Paribhadraka (परिभद्रक)	Erythrina indica	Indian:Pāngārā, Dadap, Mandar, Ferrud, Panara, English:Tiger's Claw, Indian Coral Tree and Sunshine Tree	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 73	3.73.5	Matanga hermitage	A middle sized quick-growing tree	Wild in deciduous forests throughout India. Native to the tropical and subtropical regions of eastern Africa, southern Asia, northern Australia, and the islands of the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean east to Fiji.
Pāribhadraka (पारिभद्रक)	Erythrina indica	Pāngārā	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.80	Pampa Lake
Parnasa (पर्णास)	Ocimum sanctum	Tulasī (तुलसी‌) in Sanskrit,(तुलसी‌) in Nepali, (ତୁଳସୀ/Tul`asi) in Oriya, (‌তুলসী) in Bengali, (तुळस) in Marathi, (तुलसी‌) in Hindi, tulasi (తులసి) in Telugu, (തുളസി) in Malayalam, (துளசி) in Tamil, (ತುಳಸಿ) in Kannada, Maduruthala in Sinhalese	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 15	3.15.18	Panchavati	An erect herbaceous, much-branched, softly hairy aromatic annual	Tulsi is native throughout the Old World tropics and widespread as a cultivated plant and an escaped weed.cultivated throughout India.
Pāṭalā (पाटला)	Stereospermum chelonoides	Indian :Padhala, Adakapari, Padari, Paral, Kirsel, Koosga, Tuatuka, English:Trumpet flower, Yellow snake tree, Malayalam : Patiri, Poopatiri	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.80	Pampa Lake	A large deciduous tree	Throughout India, growing in deciduous forests. Konkan on slopes of hills, in moist deciduous or evergreen forests
Pāṭalā (पाटला)	Stereospermum chelonoides	Padari	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 15	3.15.18	Panchavati
Pāṭalā (पाटला)	Stereospermum chelonoides	Padari	Ramayan	Bala Kanda Sarga 24	1.24.15	Malada and Karusha
Pippali (पिप्पली)	Piper longum	Indian:Pimpalli, Pipal, Pipli, Piplamul, English:Indian long peppere, Javanese, Indian or Indonesian Long Pepper	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 11	3.11.74	Agastya’s hermitage	A slender aromatic climber with perennial woody roots	Hotter parts of India
Plaksha (प्लक्ष)	Ficus religiosa	Hindi: Pakar, Malayalam : Ithi, English: Sacred fig, Fig tree	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 73	3.73.3	Matanga hermitage	A large evergreen tree with few aerial roots	Native to India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, southwest China and Indochina east to Vietnam.
Priyāla (प्रियाल)	Buchanania lanzan	Hindi: Chironji (चिरौन्जी), Oriya-Westren- Chanhar(ଚାଂହାର), Piyal, Achar, Marathi: चारोळी, English:Almondi tree	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 73	3.73.3	Matanga hermitage	An evergreen tree with a straight, cylindrical trunk	Common throughout India in dry or moist deciduous forests or in semi evergreen forests
Punnāga (पुन्नाग)	Calophyllum inophyllum	Indian:Undi, Undala, Unang, Surangi, Surpunka, Sultan champa, English: Alexandrian Laurel, Tamil:Pinnai	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 15	3.15.16	Panchavati	A middle sized evergreen sub-marine tree	It is native from East Africa, southern coastal India to Malesia and Australia. Coastal regions and littoral forest of India and grown as an ornamental tree.
Punnāga (पुन्नाग)	Calophyllum inophyllum	-	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 42	4.42.7	Surashtra, Bahlika and Chandrachitra provinces	-	-
Pūrnaka (पूर्णक)	NA	NA	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.80	Pampa Lake
Raktā रक्ता	Rubia cordifolia	Indian Madder	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.82	Pampa Lake		Throughout India in hilly districts, Konkan
Sāla (साल)	Vateria indica	Hindi:Dhupa, Ralla English:Indian Copal, White dammar, Piney varnish, Kannada: ಧೂಪದ ಮರ	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 11	3.11.74	Agastya’s hermitage	A large, elegant, evergreen tree	Western India, chiefly in evergreen forests, but also occasionally along rivers in deciduous forests
Sala (साल)	Vateria indica	-	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 15	3.15.16	Panchavati
Sala (साल)	Vateria indica	-	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 40	4.40.56	Udaya Mountain
Śalmalī (शाल्मली)	Bombax ceiba	Indian:Semal (सेमल), Shaalmali, kaantisenbal, huttian, laala-saanwar, Kate-sawar, Nurma, Deokapaas, Shimal, Savari, Shembal English:cotton tree or tree cotton	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.82	Pampa Lake	A lofty, deciduous tree buttressed at the base	Throughout hotter parts of India. The tree is widely planted in Malay, Indonesia, south China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Shami (शमी)	Prosopis cineraria	Ghaf (United Arab Emirates), Khejri, Jant/Janti, Sangri (Rajasthan), jand (Punjabi), kandi (Sind), Banni (Kannada), Vanni (Tamil), sami, sumri (Gujarat).	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 15	3.15.18	Panchavati	A small to medium size tree	Occurs in the dry and arid regions of India. It is one of the chief indigenous trees of the plains of the Punjab, Western Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bundelkhand, Delhi, Agra, dry parts of Central and Southern India, Maharashtra (near Nasik), Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka (south of Godavari). Occurs in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran.
Shamī (शमी)	Prosopis cineraria	Khejdi	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 15	3.15.22	Panchavati
Sanjīvanī (संजीवनी)	Possibly Selaginella bryopteris, Cressa cretica or Desmotrichum fimbriatum	Sanjīvanī	Ramayan	Yuddha Kanda Sarga 89	6.89.16	Mt. Dronagiri (Himalayas)	Selaginella bryopteris herb	Grows on the hills of tropical areas, particularly the Arawali mountain terrains from east to west in India.
Śimśupa (शिंशुप)	Dalbergia latifolia	sanskrit:Simsipa, Sinsipa, Krishnasara, Gurusara, Krishnasimsapa, English : Rose wood, Indian rose wood, Black wood Hindi : Shisham, Sitsal, Malayalam : Eeti, Kariveeti, Veeti	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.81	Pampa Lake	A large sized tree	Growing naturally in wet deciduous forests of Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala, in India.
Sindhuvara (सिन्धुवार)	Vitex negundo	English: Five-leaved chaste tree, Hindi: Nirgundi, Nirguddi, Sambhalu, Shivari, Nisida, Nigudi	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.77	Pampa Lake	A large aromatic shrub or small tree	Throughout India in warmer zones
Śiriśa (शिरीष)	Albizzia lebbeck	Indian:Siras, Shirisha, Kala-siris, Chichola, Chichwa	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.81	Pampa Lake	A large, erect, unarmed deciduous, spreading tree	A road-side tree common throughout India
Supuṣpī (सुपुष्पी)	Clitoria ternatea	English: Butterfly pea, blue pea vine, mussel-shell climber, pigeon wings, Aparājitā(ଅପରାଜିତା) in Oriya, Bengali/ Hindi:Aparājitā, Malayalam:Sankhupushpam, ശംഖുപുഷ്പം, Marathi:Gokarna, Sanskrit:Aparajita, saukarnika, ardrakarni, girikarnika, supuspi, mohanasini, vishadoshaghni, Tamil:Sangu pu	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.77	Pampa Lake	A pretty perennial twiner with blue or white flowers	A common garden plant;also occurs among hedges all over India. Native to tropical equatorial Asia, but has been introduced to Africa, Australia and the New World.
Surakta (सुरक्त)	Pterocarpus santalinus	English:Red sandalwood, Red Sanders, Indian: Rakta chandana, Laal chandan	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 73	3.73.5	Matanga hermitage	A tall deciduous tree	It is mainly found in south India particularly in Kadapa and Chittoor on the Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh border and neighbouring areas of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
Syandana (स्यंदन)	Lagerstroemia speciosa	English: Queen crape, Myrtle, Pride of India, Indian: Taaman, Jarul, Mota-bondara	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.82	Pampa Lake	A small to medium-sized deciduous tree	It is grown in South East Asia, India and the Philippines. It is also widely cultivated as an ornamental plant in tropical and subtropical areas. In India found in Western and Eastern Ghats; Assam; Chittagong, Chota Nagpur.
Syandana (स्यंदन)	Lagerstroemia speciosa		Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 15	3.15.18	Panchavati
Tāla (ताल)	Borassus flabellifer	English: Asian palmyra palm, Toddy palm, Sugar palm, Cambodian palm, Palmyra, Ice-apple, Indian: Taad (ताड), Tala ( ତାଳ) (Oriya), Tari (Hindi), Tal (Bengali), Nungu (Tamil), Thaati/Munjalu (Telugu), Munjal (Urdu), Tnaot (Khmer), Lontar(Indonesian), Akadiru (East Timorese), Tao (Divehi), Tadfali (Gujarati), Targula (Konkani) .	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 15	3.15.16	Panchavati	A very tall, erect, magnificent dioecious palm	Grows all over the country. It is also common in Thailand, especially in the northeast or Isaan province.
Tāla (ताल)	Borassus flabellifer	palm tree, Tamil (panai)	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 40	4.40.53/56	Udaya Mountain	-	-
Tāla (ताल)	Borassus flabellifer		Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 42	4.42.46	Between Mt. Meru and Mt. Astaadri	-	-
Tamāla (तमाल)	Garcinia hanburyi	Indian:Tamal, English:Gambojia, Gamboge, Indian Gamboge tree	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 15	3.15.16	Panchavati	A small or middle sized evergreen tree	Siam, Cochin, China, In the evergreen forests of Assam and Khasi hills
Tamāla (तमाल)	Garcinia hanburyi	-	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 40	4-40-56	Udaya Mountain	-
Tamāla (तमाल)	Garcinia hanburyi	-	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 42	4.42.11	Cities Murachi, Jatapura, Avanti and Angalepa	-	-
Tilaka (तिलक)	Cinnamomum iners	English :cassia bark, Cinnamum, Hindi :Daalachini, Tejpat, Tamaal saala	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.78	Pampa Lake	A middle sized tree	Cultivated in India, Found in Burma and China.
Tilaka (तिलक)	Cinnamomum iners	-	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.83	Pampa Lake
Tilaka (तिलक)	Cinnamomum iners	-	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 15	3.15.17	Panchavati
Tilaka (तिलक)	Cinnamomum iners	-	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 73	3.73.4	Matanga hermitage
Tinduka (तिन्दुक)	Diospyros melanoxylon	English:Indian persimon, Indian:Tendu, Gabh, Tedu, Tembhurnnee, Tenddu, Timburi, Oriya: Kendu (କେନ୍ଦୁ)	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 11	4.11.74	Agastya’s hermitage	A middle sized evergreen tree	Throughout India.
Tinduka (तिन्दुक)	Diospyros melanoxylon	Tendu	Ramayan	Bala Kanda Sarga 24	1.24.15	Malada and Karusha
Tinduka (तिन्दुक)	Diospyros melanoxylon	Tendu	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 73	3.73.3	Matanga hermitage
Tiniśa (तिनिश)	Lagerstroemia speciosa	English: Queen crape, Myrtle, Pride of India, Indian: Taaman, Jarul, Mota-bondara	Ramayan	Aranya Kanda Sarga 15	3.15.16	Panchavati	A small to medium-sized deciduous tree	It is grown in South East Asia, India and the Philippines. It is also widely cultivated as an ornamental plant in tropical and subtropical areas. In India found in Western and Eastern Ghats; Assam; Chittagong, Chota Nagpur.
Tinisha (तिनिश)	Lagerstroemia speciosa	-	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.82	Pampa Lake
Uddālaka (उद्दालक)	Cordia myxa	Indian:Lasora, Bhokara, Shelvant, English: Assyrian plum, Sebeston plum, Large sebestan	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.81	Pampa Lake	A medium-sized broad-leaved deciduous tree	In the Indian subcontinent, it is seen coming up naturally and growing abundantly from Myanmar in the East to Afghanistan in the West
Uddālaka (उद्दालक)	Cordia myxa	-	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 42	4.42.7	Surashtra, Bahlika and Chandrachitra provinces	-	-
Vakula (वकुल)	Mimusops elengi	Indian:Vakula, Bakulla, Maulsari, Ovalli,magizham (Tamil)	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.78	Pampa Lake	A small to large sized evergreen tree	Found in tropical forests in South Asia, South east Asia & Northern Australia. In India found throughout in wet, damp and marshy areas
Vakula (वकुल)	Mimusops elengi	-	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 42	4.42.7	Surashtra, Bahlika and Chandrachitra provinces	-	-
Vāsantī (वासन्ती	Hiptage benghalensis	Indian:Vāsantī, Madhumalati, Haladvel, Madahavilataai	Ramayan	Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1	4.1.77	Pampa Lake	A large handsome evergreen climbing shrub	Found throughout the warmer parts of Maharashtra, Konkan, Karnataka, and other parts of India

Flora of Mahabharata epic

Legend of the Shami Tree

The Shami Tree (Prosopis cineraria) was used to hide Arjuna's Gandiva

There is a little-known legend associated with Vijayadashami festival, one associated with the Mahabharata. For reasons impossible to delineate here, the Pandavas underwent a period of exile, being 12 years of dwelling in the forest followed by a year of exile incognito. Disguise being indispensable during the latter period, the Pandavas found it necessary to lay aside, for the length of that year, the many divine and distinctive weapons that they possessed such as Arjuna's Gandiva. These they secreted in a 'Shami' tree (Prosopis cineraria) in the vicinity of their chosen place of incognito residence. It is said that the Shami tree chosen by the Pandavas stood inside a cremation ground. It was chosen to render detection that much less likely. The Pandavas wrapped their weapons in a white cloth and concealed this on that shami tree, making the weapons look like a dead body. Mahabharata Book IV Virata Parva Chapter 5 mentions that on the southerns bank of River Yamuna in Viratanagara hides his bow Gandiva in Shami tree.^[25] That Shami tree was in the midst of an out-of-the way forest abounding in beasts and snakes, and was in the vicinity of a dreary cemetery. At the end of a year, they returned to the spot, found their weaponry intact, and worshipped in thanksgiving both the Shami tree and the Goddess Durga, presiding deity of strength and victory. Meanwhile, the Kauravas had invaded that area, suspecting the residence of the Pandavas there. Upon finishing their devotions, the Pandavas made straight to battle, and won the contest comprehensively. The day that all these events occurred on has since been known as "Vijayadashami", where "Vijaya" is the Sanskrit word for "Victory". The fact of the comprehensive success of the Pandavas in their endeavour has been extrapolated to the everyday ventures of the common man today. Even to this day, people exchange Shami leaves and wish each other victory in their own ventures and efforts.

Kuru- Jangla region

The historian K R Qanungo^[26] mentions incidence from Mahabharata that there is a town named Sakala and river named Apaga where section of the Bahikas, known as the Jartikas, dwell. He mentions about a Bahika who had to sojourn for a time in Kuru-jungal country sang the following song about the women of his country. He also mentions here three important tree species also:

"Though a Bahika, I am at present an exile in Kuru-jangal country; that tall and fair-complexioned wife of mine, dressed in her fine blanket certainly remembers me when she retires to rest. Oh! when shall I go back to my country crossing again the Satadru (the Sutlej) and Iravati and see beautiful females of fair complexion, wearing stout bangles, dressed in blanket and skins, eye-sides coloured with dye of Manshila, forehead, cheek and chin painted wit collyrium (tattooing ?). When shall we eat under the pleasant shade of Shami (Prosopis cineraria), Peelu (Salvadora oleoides) and Karir (Capparis decidua), loaves and balls of fried barley powder with waterless churned curd (kunjik), and gathering strength, take away the clothes of the wayfarers and beat them?"

List of Plants A-L in Mahabharata

Sanskrit name of plant (Devanagari)	Botanical name	Indian names	Indian epic	Parvaa	Shloka	Location in epics	Habit	Present Habitat
Amrataka आम्रातक	Spondias pinnata	English:Bile tree, Wild Mango, Hindi:Aambaada, Jungli Aam	Mahabharata	Shalya Parva	IX.36.59	Sarasvati River	A middle sized deciduous glabrous tree below 15 m.	Common tree all over in wild as well as in cultivation
Arimeda अरिमेद	Acacia farnesiana	Hindi:Devabaabhulla, Gandha babul, Kankar, Vilayati kikar, English:Needle Bush	Mahabharata	Drona Parva	VII.153.24	Kurukshetra war	A thorni bush or small tree	Native to Mexico and Central America, the species has a pantropical distribution incorporating Northern Australia and Southern Asia. Grown throughout India, often planted in gardens
Ashtapadika आष्टापदिक	Vallaris dichotoma	Padika, Bhardravalli, Bhadramunja	Mahabharata	Anusasana Parva	XIII.54.6	King Kusika country on the banks of the Ganges belonging to the Gandharvas
Asoka अशोक	Saraca asoca	Ashoka	Mahabharata	Anusasana Parva	XIII.54.4	King Kusika country	A middle sized evergreen tree	Cultivated ingargens throughout India
Aswattha अश्वत्थ	Ficus religiosa	Pipal, Pimpalla, Bodhi	Mahabharata	Shalya Parva	IX.3.58, XIII.4.27	Sarasvati River	A large or middle sized deciduous tree	Sub-Himalayan forests, Bengal, Madhya Pradesh. Planted elsewhere
Atimukta अतिमुक्तक	Hiptage benghalensis	Hindi:Madhumalati, Madhumaalati, Vāsantī, Haladvel, Madahavilataa	Mahabharata	Shalya Parva	IX.36.60	Sarasvati River	A large handsome evergreen climbing shrub	Found throughout the warmer parts of Maharashtra, Konkan, Karnataka, and other parts of India
Atimukta	Hiptage benghalensis	-	Mahabharata	Anusasana Parva	XIII.54.4	King Kusika country	-	-
Badari बदरी	Zizyphus mauritiana	Indian: Ber, Bora	Mahabharata	Vana Parva	III.174.23	Dvaita Forest, Kurukshetra Sarasvati River	A small tree or large shrub usually armed	Common in hotter parts of India, cultivated in gardens or found wild in waste places
Badari बदरी	Zizyphus mauritiana	Indian: Ber, Bora	Mahabharata	Drona Parva	VII.153.24	Kurukshetra war	-	-
Badari बदरी	Zizyphus mauritiana	Indian: Ber, Bora	Mahabharata	Shalya Parva	IX.36.58	Sarasvati River	-	-
Bhavya भव्य	Dillenia indica	Sanskrit:Bhava, Bhavya, Bhavishya, Bhavan, Vaktrashodhan, Pichchilbeeja English:Sandpaper tree Hindi: Malayalam: Kudapunna, Pattipunna, Neitekku, Bengali:chalta, Assamese:outenga	Mahabharata	Anusasana Parva	XIII.54.5	King Kusika country	An evergreen large shrub or small to medium-sized tree growing to 15 m	Throughout India growing wild, Native to southeastern Asia, from India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka east to southwestern China (Yunnan) and Vietnam, and south through Thailand to Malaysia and Indonesia
Bilva बिल्वा	Aegle marmelos	Bel	Mahabharata	Vana Parva	III.174.23	Dvaita Forest, Kurukshetra Sarasvati River	A middle sized slender aromatic armed tree	Indigenous central and southern India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand. It is cultivated throughout India, Sri Lanka, Malay Peninsula, Java and Philippines.
Bilwa	Aegle marmelos	-	Mahabharata	Shalya Parva	IX.3.59	Sarasvati River	-	-
Champaka चम्पक	Michelia champaca	Champa	Mahabharata	Anusasana Parva	XIII.54.5	King Kusika country	A large or middle sized evergreen tree	Native to South Asia and Southeast Asia.
Champaka चम्पक	Michelia champaca	-	Mahabharata	Drona Parva	VII.153.24	Kurukshetra war	-	-
Dhava धव	Anogeissus latifolia	Hindi: Dhavda, Bakli , Dhau , Dhawa, Dhawra, Dhaora English: Axlewood, Thai:Takhian-nu, Vietnamese:Raam	Mahabharata	Anusasana Parva	XIII.54.4	King Kusika country	A small to medium-sized tree	Native to the India, Nepal, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka
Inguda इङ्गुद	Balanites roxburghii	English:Desert date, Indian:Hinganbet, Ingudi, Hingoli, Hingun	Mahabharata	Shalya Parva	IX.36.58	Sarasvati River	A spiny, evergreen tree	Common in open sandy plains of Indian peninsula, western Rajasthan, west Bengal, Maharashtra and drier parts of India
Inguda इङ्गुद	Balanites roxburghii	-	Mahabharata	Vana Parva	III.174.23	Dvaita Forest, Kurukshetra Sarasvati River	-	-
Ingudi इङ्गुद	Balanites roxburghii	-	Mahabharata	Drona Parva	VII.153.24	Kurukshetra war	-	-
Karira करीर	Capparis decidua	kerda, kair, karir, kirir, karril	Mahabharata	Shalya Parva	IX.36.58	Sarasvati River	A small much branched tree or shrub	arid regions in Africa, Middle East and southern Asia, including the Thar desert.
Karira करीर	Capparis decidua	-	Mahabharata	Vana Parva	III.174.23	Dvaita Forest, Kurukshetra Sarasvati River	-	-
Karira करीर	Capparis decidua	-	Mahabharata	Drona Parva	VII.153.24	-Kurukshetra war-
Karira करीर	Capparis decidua	-	Mahabharata	Karna Parva	VIII.30.24	Kuru-Jangal country	-	-
Karnikara कर्णिकार	Cassia fistula	Hindi: Amaltas English:Golden Shower, Indian laburnum, Drumstick tree	Mahabharata	Anusasana Parva	XIII.54.5	King Kusika country	A medium-sized deciduous tree	Native to southern Asia, from southern Pakistan east through India to Myanmar and south to Sri Lanka.
Kashanda कषण्ड	NA	NA	Mahabharata	Shalya Parva	IX.36.60	Sarasvati River
Kashmarya काश्मर्य	Berberis vulgaris	English:European barberry, Indian:Kashmal	Mahabharata	Shalya Parva	IX.36.58	Sarasvati River	It is a deciduous shrub growing up to 4 m high.	Native to central and southern Europe, northwest Africa and western Asia; it is also naturalised in northern Europe, and North America.
Ketaka केतक	Pandanus tectorius	Indian: Kewada, Ktetaki, Keura, Gagandhul	Mahabharata	Anusasana Parva	XIII.54.4	King Kusika country	A densely branched shrub rarely erect	Seacoast of Indian Peninsula
Khadira खदिर	Acacia catechu	Hindi: Khair, Khadira English: Cutch, Catechu, Cachou, Black Cutch	Mahabharata	Vana Parva	III.174.23	Dvaita Forest, Kurukshetra Sarasvati River	A moderate sized deciduous, thorny tree	It is found in Asia, China, North Africa, Naturalized in all drier parts of India.
Kovidāra कोविदार	Bauhinia variegata	Kachanār	Mahabharata	Drona Parva	VII.153.24	Kurukshetra war	A small to medium-sized tree	Dry forests in India
Kunda	Jasminum pubescens	NA	Mahabharat

List of Plants M-Z in Mahabharata

Sanskrit name of plant (Devanagari)	Botanical name	Indian names	Indian epic	Parva	Shloka	Location in epics	Habit	Present Habitat
Nyagrodha (न्यग्रोध)	Ficus bengalensis	Plaksha, Bengal fig, Indian fig, East Indian fig, Indian Banyan or simply Banyan, also borh, nyagrodha and wad or Vad/Vat	Mahabharata	Drona Parva	VII.153.24	Kurukshetra war	A very large tree with many aerial roots	Endemic to Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. Found in Sub-Himalayas tract and western peninsula, planted elsewhere.
Palasa	Butea monosperma	Indian: Palas, Dhak, Khakara, Kakracha English:Flame of the Forest, Bastard tree, Parrot Tree	Mahabharata	Shalya Parva	IX.36.58	Sarasvati River	A medium-sized deciduous tree with somewhat crooked trunk	Native to tropical southern Asia, from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and western Indonesia. Common Throughout India
Panasa पनस	Artocarpus heterophyllus	Indian: Kat-hal (कटहल), Phannasa, English: Jack-fruit	Mahabharata	Shalya Parva	IX.36.58	Sarasvati River	A large evergreen tree	Native to parts of South and Southeast Asia. Indigenous to India, grows wild in Western Ghats.
Panasa पनस	-	-	Mahabharata	Anusasana Parva	XIII.54.5	King Kusika country	-	-
Parijata पारिजात	Nyctanthes arbortristis	Indian:Paarijaat, Praajakt, Harsinghar, Seoli, Khurasli, English:Indian mourner, Night jasmine, Coral jasmine	Mahabharata	Shalya Parva	IX.36.60	Sarasvati River	It is a hardy shrub or a small tree.	Native to India, southern Asia from northern Pakistan and Nepal to Thailand
Parushaka परूषक	NA	NA	Mahabharata	Shalya Parva	IX.36.59	Sarasvati River
Pilu पीलु	Salvadora oleoides	Indian:Vann, Punjabi:ون/ਵਣ, Hindi:जाल/पीलू Sindhi:Jar	Mahabharata	Shalya Parva	IX.36.59	Sarasvati River	A small bushy evergreen tree	Found in India and Pakistan.
Pilu पीलु	Salvadora oleoides	-	Mahabharata	Sabha Parva	II.47.4	Kamboja country	-	-
Pilu पीलु	Salvadora oleoides	-	Mahabharata	Vana Parva	III.174.23	Dvaita Forest, Kurukshetra Sarasvati River	-	-
Pilu पीलु	Salvadora oleoides	-	Mahabharata	Drona Parva	VII.153.24	Kurukshetra war
Pilu पीलु	Salvadora oleoides	-	Mahabharata	Karna Parva	VIII.30.24	Kuru-jangal country
Plaksha	Ficus religiosa	Pipal, Pimpalla, Bodhi	Mahabharata	Shalya Parva	IX.36.58	Sarasvati River	A large or middle sized deciduous tree
Plaksha पलक्ष	Ficus religiosa	-	Mahabharata	Vana Parva	III.174.23	Dvaita Forest, Kurukshetra, Sarasvati River
Plaksha पलक्ष	Ficus religiosa	-	Mahabharata	Drona Parva	VII.153.24	Kurukshetra war
Rohitaka रौहीतक	Tecomella undulata	Rohida, Desert teak	Mahabharata	Vana Parva	III.174.23, III. 241.67)	Dvaita Forest, Kurukshetra, Sarasvati River	A deciduous or nearly evergreen tree of arid and semi arid regions.	Restricted to the drier parts of the Arabia, southern Pakistan and northwest India up to an elevation of 1200 metres. In Pakistan it is found in Baluchistan and Sindh. In India, it occurs naturally in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana.
Rohitaka रॊहीतक	Tecomella undulata	Rohida, Desert teak	Mahabharata	Sabha Parva	II.29.4	West of Khandavaprastha	-	-
Rohitaka रॊहीतक	Tecomella undulata	Rohida, Desert teak	Mahabharata	Udyoga Parva	II.29.4	The region called Kuru-Jangala, and the forest of Rohitaka	-	-
Sahakaras	Mangifera indica	English:Mango, Indian: Aamba, Aamra, Aam, Amb	Mahabharata	Anusasana Parva	XIII.54.4	King Kusika country	A middle sized evergreen tree	A common tree all over India cultivated for its delicious fruits
Sanuha सनुह	NA	NA	Mahabharata	Vana Parva	III.174.23	Dvaita Forest, Kurukshetra, Sarasvati River
Shami शमी	Prosopis cineraria	Ghaf (United Arab Emirates), Khejri, Jant/Janti, Sangri (Rajasthan), jand (Punjabi), kandi (Sind), Banni (Kannada), Vanni (Tamil), sami, sumri (Gujarat).	Mahabharata	Sabha Parva	II.47.4	Kamboja country	A small to medium size tree	Occurs in the dry and arid regions of India. It is one of the chief indigenous trees of the plains of the Punjab, Western Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bundelkhand, Delhi, Agra, dry parts of Central and Southern India, Maharashtra (near Nasik), Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka (south of Godavari). Occurs in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran.
Shami शमी	Prosopis cineraria	Khejadi	Mahabharata	Virata Parva	IV.5.12	River Yamuna in Viratanagara	-
Shami शमी	Prosopis cineraria	Khejadi	Mahabharata	Drona Parva	VII.153.24	Kurukshetra war	-
Shami शमी	Prosopis cineraria	NA	Mahabharata	Karna Parva	VIII.30.24	Kuru-jangal country	-
Shami शमी	Prosopis cineraria	NA	Mahabharata	Shalya Parva	IX:46.12	Sarasvati River	-
Shami शमी	Prosopis cineraria	NA	Mahabharata	Shalya Parva	IX:46.16	Sarasvati River	-
Shami शमी	Prosopis cineraria	NA	Mahabharata	Shalya Parva	IX:46.18	Sarasvati River	-
Shirisha शिरीष	Albizzia lebbeck	English:Lebbeck, Lebbek Tree, Flea Tree, Frywood, Koko and Woman's tongues Tree. Indian:Siras, Shirisha, Kala-siris, Chichola, Chichwa	Mahabharata	Vana Parva	III.174.23	Dvaita Forest, Kurukshetra, Sarasvati River	A large, erect, unarmed deciduous, spreading tree	A road-side tree common throughout India, native to tropical southern Asia, and widely cultivated and naturalised in other tropical and subtropical regions.
Shyama शयाम	Salvadora persica	Sanskrit: Pilu, angāhavā, sītasahā, śyāma, Indian:Khaankann, mirajollee, khakhin, miraj, jhak, pilva, kharjal, rhakhan, thorapilu, English:Arak, toothbrush tree	Mahabharata	Anusasana Parva	XIII.54.6	King Kusika country	A small tree or shrub with a crooked trunk, seldom more than one foot in diameter	Konkan, Maharashtra, drier parts of India including Punjab and Rajasthan
Tilaka तिलक	Vitex altissima	English :Tall chaste tree, Hindi : Tilakapushpa	Mahabharata	Anusasana Parva	XIII.54.5	King Kusika country	A large tree grows up to 40 meters in height	Throughout south India, in evergreen and deciduous forests.
Uddalakas उद्दालक	Cordia myxa	Indian:Lasora, Bhokara, Shelvant, English: Assyrian plum, Sebeston plum, Large sebestan	Mahabharata	Anusasana Parva	XIII.54.4	King Kusika country	A medium-sized broad-leaved deciduous tree	In the Indian subcontinent, it is seen coming up naturally and growing abundantly from Myanmar in the East to Afghanistan in the West
Vamsa	Dendrocalamus species	Bamboo	Mahabharata	Virata Parva	IV.57.?	Kurukshetra war
Vamsa	Dendrocalamus species	Bamboo	Mahabharata	Virata Parva	VII.34.?	Kurukshetra war
Vanjula वञ्जुल	Saraca asoca	Ashoka	Mahabharata	Anusasana Parva	XIII.54.5	King Kusika country	A middle sized evergreen tree	Cultivated ingargens throughout India
Varanapushpa वारणपुष्प	Calophyllum inophyllum	Sanskrit:Punnāga (पुन्नाग), Indian:Undi, Undala, Unang, Surangi, Surpunka, Sultan champa, English: Alexandrian Laurel, Tamil:Pinnai	Mahabharata	Anusasana Parva	XIII.54.6	King Kusika country	A middle sized evergreen sub-marine tree	It is native from East Africa, southern coastal India to Malesia and Australia. Coastal regions and littoral forest of India and grown as an ornamental tree.
vaṭa (वट)	Ficus bengalensis	Plaksha, Bengal fig, Indian fig, East Indian fig, Indian Banyan or simply Banyan, also borh, nyagrodha and wad or Vad/Vat	Mahabharata	Vana Parva	III.1.39, III.13.74	Pramanakoti on the banks of Ganges, to the north of Hastinapura	A very large tree with many aerial roots	Endemic to Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. Found in Sub-Himalayas tract and western peninsula, planted elsewhere.
Venu वेणू	Bambusa arundinacea	English:Spiny bamboo, Hindi:Kaantaa baans (काँटा बांस)	Mahabharata	Anusasana Parva	XIII.109.47		A graceful spinous perennial erect herb	Wild throughout India especially in hill forests.
Venu (Kichaka) कीचक वेणू	Bambusa arundinacea	English:Spiny bamboo, Hindi:Kaantaa baans (काँटा बांस)	Mahabharata	Sabha Parva	II.48.2	Where River Sailoda flows between the mountains of Meru and Mandara	A graceful spinous perennial erect herb	Wild throughout India especially in hill forests.
Vetas वेतस	Calamus rotang	Rattan Palm	Mahabharata	Vana Parva	III.174.23	Dvaita Forest, Kurukshetra, Sarasvati River	The basal section of the plant grows vertically for 10 metres or so, after which the slender, tough stem of a few centimetres in diameter, grows horizontally for 200 metres or more.	Found in Southwest Asia.
Vibhitaka विभीतक	Terminalia bellirica	English:Bastard, Myrobalan, Belliric myrobalan, Hindi: Baheraa (बहेड़ा), Behaddaa, Bibheeta,	Mahabharata	Shalya Parva	IX.36.58	Sarasvati River	A large deciduous tree	Common on plains and lower hills throughout the forests of India. Common in Southeast Asia, where it is also grown as an avenue tree.

See also

• List of Indian timber trees
• Plants used in Ayurveda
• Flora of Madhya Pradesh

References

External links

• Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants Index
  • Plants arranged by Botanical Name
  • Plants arranged by Sanskrit Name
• Sanskrit to Botanical Names
• Mahabharata Online Index