Introduction Persea americana, the avocado, is among the world’s most commercially important subtropical fruit trees because of its nutrient-dense, oil-rich fruit and exceptionally broad international trade footprint. Belonging to the Lauraceae family, the same lineage as cinnamon and bay laurel,…
Introduction Butea monosperma, widely known as Palash, is a medium-sized deciduous tree celebrated for its intense orange-scarlet floral displays that can dominate dry seasonal landscapes before leaf flush. Belonging to the Fabaceae (legume) family and native to the Indian subcontinent…
Introduction Stevia rebaudiana is a perennial herb best known for producing intensely sweet diterpene glycosides, particularly stevioside and rebaudioside A, compounds valued globally as non-caloric natural sweeteners. Commonly known as Stevia, the species belongs to the family Asteraceae and originates…
Introduction Acorus calamus, commonly known as Sweet Flag, is a semi-aquatic perennial monocot in the family Acoraceae distinguished by its aromatic rhizomes rich in volatile phytochemicals. Native across temperate and subtropical parts of Eurasia according to Kew POWO source-class taxonomy…
Hibiscus sabdariffa, commonly known as roselle, is a fast-growing member of the mallow family Malvaceae valued globally for its fleshy red calyces, edible leaves, fibre, and phytochemically rich tissues. The species is widely considered to have originated in tropical Africa,…
Introduction Kachnar (Bauhinia variegata) is a deciduous ornamental and multipurpose tree distinguished by its orchid-like flowers, a defining trait within the family Fabaceae. It is native to the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia, where it thrives in subtropical…
Introduction Dioscorea alata, commonly known as Purple Yam, is a tuber-forming vine in the family Dioscoreaceae, valued for its vividly pigmented storage organs. The species is widely cultivated across tropical and subtropical regions, with a probable origin in Southeast Asia…
Introduction Gomphrena globosa, commonly known as globe amaranth, is distinguished by its persistent, papery inflorescences that retain colour long after drying. It belongs to the family Amaranthaceae and is native to tropical regions of Central and South America. The species…
Introduction Terminalia bellirica, commonly known as Baheda, is a large deciduous tree belonging to the family Combretaceae, native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is most notable for its fruit, a key component of the traditional herbal formulation…
INTRODUCTION Colocasia esculenta, widely known as taro, is a tropical root crop distinguished by its starchy underground corm, which serves as a major carbohydrate source across Asia, Africa, and the Pacific. A member of the Araceae family, it is among…