Plants of Madhya Pradesh

Ajwain अजवाइन Trachyspermum ammi A winter annual of the north-west, grown for the thyme-scented seed. Ajwain Leaf अजवाइन पत्ता Plectranthus amboinicus Thick scented leaves on a succulent stem; one plant fills a windowsill pot for years. Amaltas अमलतास Cassia fistula Yellow chandeliers in May, when the city most needs something to look at. Amaranth चौलाई Amaranthus tricolor The monsoon green that grows itself — heat-proof, rain-proof, ready in a month. Amaranth Grain रामदाना Amaranthus cruentus Grown for seed rather than leaf; magenta heads over the whole monsoon. Amla आमला Phyllanthus emblica Feathery-leaved and drought-hardy; one grafted tree feeds a household through winter. Arjun अर्जुन Terminalia arjuna A riverbank giant with pale bark — a campus or park tree, not a pot. Arjuna अर्जुन Terminalia arjuna A riverbank giant with pale bark — a tree for a campus or a colony park, not a… Ash Gourd पेठा Benincasa hispida The big white-waxed gourd of the south, stored for months after harvest. Ashoka अशोक Saraca asoca Orange flower clusters straight off the trunk — a sacred tree, now threatened. Ashwagandha अश्वगंधा Withania somnifera Drought-tolerant root herb for a hot sunny corner; needs almost nothing once established. Babool बबूल Vachellia nilotica Thorny, nitrogen-fixing and useful on land nobody else will plant. Bael बेल Aegle marmelos A slow, tough native tree for a hot courtyard, with fruit that makes the summer sherbet. Baheda बहेड़ा Terminalia bellirica The third triphala fruit, from a broad-crowned tree of dry deciduous forest. Bans Kaban कबान बांस Dendrocalamus strictus The dry-country bamboo of central India, solid-stemmed and drought-hardy. Banyan बरगद Ficus benghalensis The tree that becomes a grove; only for parks, campuses and village greens. Barleria कटसरैया Barleria prionitis A spiny yellow-flowered shrub of dry scrub, unbothered by heat or thin soil. Barnyard Millet सांवा Echinochloa frumentacea A hill millet that tolerates waterlogging better than any other grain. Bathua बथुआ Chenopodium album The winter weed worth sowing — mineral-rich leaves through the cold months. Beetroot चुकंदर Beta vulgaris Roots below, usable leaves above, and it tolerates a container better than carrot. Ber बेर Ziziphus mauritiana The fruit of the dry west, cropping where irrigation is impossible. Bhumi Amla भूमि आमला Phyllanthus niruri A tiny monsoon herb that appears in every wet pot, with fruit strung under the leaf. Black Gram उड़द Vigna mungo A short monsoon pulse, sown between crops as much as for the dal. Bottle Gourd लौकी Lagenaria siceraria A monsoon climber that will roof a terrace in eight weeks given a frame. Brinjal बैंगन Solanum melongena A long-season crop that rewards a big pot and steady feeding. Carrot गाजर Daucus carota Needs depth more than width — a 30 cm trough of loose soil beats a wide bed. Cattail पटेरा Typha angustifolia Brown flower spikes over strap leaves; the reed that cleans a village pond. Chickpea चना Cicer arietinum A winter pulse that also gives the sour green leaf of the north. Clitoria अपराजिता Clitoria ternatea Blue butterfly pea — a light climber that fixes nitrogen and makes blue tea. Cluster Beans ग्वार फली Cyamopsis tetragonoloba Drought-hardy bean of the west — fixes nitrogen and crops where little else will. Cluster Fig गूलर Ficus racemosa Figs in bunches straight off the trunk, feeding birds, bats and monkeys. Cockscomb लाल मुर्गा Celosia argentea Velvet crested heads that hold colour for weeks, in sun or half shade. Common Reed नरकुल Phragmites karka The tall reed of Indian riverbanks, and the standard plant for a reed-bed filter. Coral Jasmine Vine कुंद Jasminum multiflorum A soft-haired jasmine that flowers through the cool months on a low wall. Coriander धनिया Coriandrum sativum Bolts in heat, thrives in the cool months. Sow every fortnight for a steady supply. Cotton Native देशी कपास Gossypium arboreum Desi cotton — the indigenous species, hardier than the imported kinds. Cowpea लोबिया Vigna unguiculata Pods, beans and green manure from one undemanding monsoon plant. Crown Flower सफेद आक Calotropis procera The desert milkweed, smaller than gigantea and even tougher. Curry Leaf कढ़ी पत्ता Murraya koenigii A small tree that lives happily in a deep pot and gives leaves all year. Curry Tree Wild जंगली कढ़ी Murraya gleneii A wild relative of the curry leaf from peninsular scrub forest. Custard Apple सीताफल Annona squamosa A small deccan tree that fruits on very little water and poor soil. Date Palm Wild खजूर Phoenix sylvestris The wild date of the plains, tapped for gur and fruiting freely. Drumstick सहजन Moringa oleifera The fastest useful tree there is — 3 m in a year, edible leaves and pods. Elephant Foot Yam जिमीकंद Amorphophallus paeoniifolius One corm fills a large pot and returns a much bigger one in a year. Fennel सौंफ Foeniculum vulgare Feathery winter foliage, then umbels that hoverflies and small wasps work all day. Field Bean सेम Lablab purpureus The winter sem of the plains, purple-flowered and heavy-cropping on a fence. Fig अंजीर Ficus carica Two crops a year in the west, and content in a large container. Finger Millet रागी Eleusine coracana A tough small-grained millet of the southern and Himalayan hills.