Regions: South India

The third triphala fruit, from a broad-crowned tree of dry deciduous forest.

A monsoon-flowering lily of the western hills, grown for its white tuber cluster.

Near-indestructible succulent for a bright sill; water only when the soil is dry through.

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.