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Namah Principles of plant taxonomy
of the plants done by various sages and Ecara ya Caraka gives a different classification
aacaaryas of ancient India. of plants (3). According to him, trees that
bear fruits without flowers are vanaspatis;
Classification of plants trees that first bear flowers and then fruits
are vānaspatyas; herbs with spreading stem
The ancient Indian classification of plants are called vīrudhas and they are further
was based on three major considerations, divided into two classes such as creepers
namely udbhīda or botanical, virecanādi or or latās and herbs with succulent stems and
medicinal, and annapānādi or diet-related. shrubs or gulmas; those herbs that wither
This classification, however practical or after maturing are aussadhis and which are
impractical it may be from the present further divided into two groups such as:
standpoint, has provided a working basis annuals or perennials, bearing fruit, and
for botanists, physicians and agriculturists plants that wither away after maturing
of India for a very long time. and without fruiting, e.g. grasses like the
Bermuda grass (dūrvā).
It is obvious from various Sanskrit texts
that the ancient Indians did recognise Ecaarya Sussruta lays down an almost similar
different kinds of plants based on their classification of plants (4). According to him,
habits. They also recognised plants that there are four varieties of plants, such as
bear flowers and fruits and those that trees which bear fruit without blossoming
do not. Thus, Manu, the famous author (vanaspatis); those that bear both fruits and
of Manusmrrti, classified plants into eight flowers (vrrkssas); shrubs and creepers that
different types (2): trail (vīrudhas); and plants which die with
the ripening of their fruits (aussadhis).
1. aussadhis or those that bear abundant
flowers and fruits, and that wither after Apart from the above-mentioned aacaaryas,
maturing, e.g. rice and wheat. Udayanacharya (5), the author of Kirannāvali,
Prasastapada (6), the Vaīśesis ka commentator,
2. vanaspatis or those that have fruits but no and Amara Simha, the author of Amarakośa
evident flowers, e.g. Auster fig, (udumvara). (vanausas dhivarga) have dealt with the botanical
classification of the plants in great detail.
3. vrkr sas s or those which produce flowers and The Bhāgavata Purānna also deals with the
fruits, e.g. Neem (nimba). classification of plants in its 3rd skanda, 10th
Chapter, verse No. 19.
4. gucchas or bushy herbs of various types,
e.g. Jasmine (mallikā). In the ancient Indian medicinal treatises,
plants were studied mostly in relation to their
5. gulmas or succulent shrubs of various medicinal properties or values. Thus we see
types, e.g. Nerium. that Ecara ya Caraka classifies plants primarily
into two divisions — purgatives or virecanādi
6. trnr an s or different kinds of grass, e.g. Cuscus and astringents or kassāyādi (7). According to
(uśīra). him, there are six hundred purgatives and
7. pratānas or creepers with stems spreading on
the ground (procumbent and decumbent),
e.g. prasārinīn .
8. vallis or those which twine around or climb
up a tree for support, e.g. gudduci.
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