Author: Archana
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Lettuce Tree – Pisonia grandis
Remember my favorite habit of looking at plants while traveling? It was mentioned in the aavarampoo blog a while ago. Pisonia also falls into that category. While passing through the Salem-Erode highway, we crossed small towns with both sides of the road fenced with beautifully grown and trimmed Lachakottai keerai! The stunning fluorescent yellow-green foliage…
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Madras Pea pumpkin – Cucumis maderaspatanus
Madras pea pumpkin, with edible leaves and fruits is from the family of cucumbers. I noticed this plant growing in my Amma’s garden during the Corona era. A farmer friend who had visited us during that time, told me to have the leaves along with black pepper as an effective remedy for cough! And may…
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Node flower – Allmania nodiflora
Most of my greens’ knowledge arrived through my Amma. But this one arrived through Facebook. I first heard of Kummatti keerai in a FB post, and I assumed it belonged only to Tamil Nadu. Then I started reading the ethnobotanical studies, and the plant politely corrected me. It tops the use reports in an Andhra…
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Senna auriculata- Tanner’s Cassia
My family had this beautiful ritual to visit Tirupati once 3-4 years by car. We would travel through Tamil Nadu and Karnataka before reaching Andhra, without any GPS trackers or Google maps! During those journeys, my parents would make me sit in the front passenger seat and ask me to guide them! So, I am…
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Cleome gynandra- Wild Spider Flower
I don’t recollect the first time I spotted this plant, but I have always been excited whenever I come across one! The beautiful flowers are sure to catch anyone’s eye from a distance. They are simply stunning. Botanical Name: Cleome gynandra Family: Cleomaceae (Spider Flower family)Common name from flowersofindia.net: Wild Spider Flower, African Spider-flower, Cat…
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Cleome viscosa – Asian spider flower
The post reminisces about childhood memories of playing with muringakai (drumstick) and kaduk (mustard) plants, highlighting their edibility. It introduces Jakhiya, a wild mustard known for flavoring food in Uttarakhand. The plant, Cleome viscosa, has medicinal benefits and is rich in oils and fatty acids, showcasing its significance in traditional remedies.
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Trianthema portulacastrum – Desert Horse-purslane
After Common Purslane, Wild purslane, I thought of covering one more so-called-purslane(but it is not really a purslane) which I am aware of. This plant is often mistaken as Punarnava as the plant look similar to actual punarnava/thazhuthama(Boerhavia diffusa). While some call this plant as Shwetha Punarnava(as there are two varieties in this species- with…
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Turkey berry – Solanum torvum
If you’ve got a backyard garden, or you’re lucky enough to live in a small town or village, you know the deal. Alongside the “usual suspects” like papaya, banana, and curry leaves that practically grow themselves and show up for free(from your neighbors too)… there’s always that one extra guest: Chundakka. It is one of…
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Chenopodium species & Atriplex hortensis- Bathua/Goosefoot
The name “Bathua” is often used for multiple goosefoot species found during winter. This article looks at the commonly eaten Chenopodium album, along with related species such as Chenopodium giganteum and Chenopodiastrum murale, explaining how to tell them apart, their edible uses, and their role in traditional Indian food culture.
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Oxalis – Creeping Woodsorrel
Learn how to identify Creeping Woodsorrel (Oxalis corniculata), a common edible weed in India. Discover local names, traditional uses, safety tips, and simple recipes using this sour foraged green.
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The manyAnne Soppu of Karnataka
The first time I got to hear about Silver cockscomb was as ‘Kurdu’ in Pune from a lady whom I met at a local market .She said Kurdu comes in that local market during monsoons only. I tried searching it during the monsoons, but couldn’t find any. Botanical Name: Celosia argentea L. var. argentea Family: Amaranthaceae (Amaranth…
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Solanum complex – Indian Blacknight shade
Indian Blacknightshade, comprising Solanum americanum and Solanum nigrum, is widely consumed despite not being native to India. Both varieties bear edible parts but require proper preparation to ensure safety, with research highlighting their medicinal benefits. Traditional use includes treating ailments, showcasing their culinary versatility through various regional recipes.
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