Regions: South India

A slender twiner of scrub and hedges, with fragrant roots and small dark flowers.

A slow, tough native tree for a hot courtyard, with fruit that makes the summer sherbet.

The street tree of the plains; even a potted seedling supplies leaves for a pest spray.

An unfussy evergreen shrub with white throated flowers that carpenter bees work.

A low monsoon weed of wet ground, gathered for hair oil for as long as anyone remembers.

A woody climber of the dry deccan, slow but very long-lived on a trellis.

A dry-country shrub with yellow flowers, tough enough for a Rajasthan roof.

Bolts in heat, thrives in the cool months. Sow every fortnight for a steady supply.

Plant a knob of market haldi in June; harvest your own in February.

The same trick as turmeric, in slightly more shade and slightly less time.