sign in sign up
<<
Home , Leaf vegetable, Marsilea minuta

www.ijapbc.com IJAPBC – Vol. 4(3), Jul - Sep, 2015 ISSN: 2277 - 4688

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADVANCES IN PHARMACY, BIOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY Research Article A Study on and Fronds Consumed as and in West Bengal State, .

Sauris Panda Department of Botany, Charu Chandra College (University of Calcutta), 22 – Lake Road, Kolkata, West Bengal, India - 700 029.

ABSTRACT The present paper deals with 71 / subspecies / varieties – the leaves and fronds of which are consumed as and in West Bengal State (India), provided with some notes and recommendations about their properties and uses. Leaves of a number of species of the families Cucurbitaceae and Cruciferae / Brassicaceae are edible. Among the genera, Amaranthus offering five species is the most significant one in the State as regards the number of species taken as a -vegetable. The most commonly eaten leaf-vegetables are – minuta, Amaranthus tricolor, Azadirachta indica, , var. capitata, , Glinus oppositifolius, , Lagenaria siceraria, Raphanus sativus, Spinacia oleracea and Trigonella foenum-graecum. ‘Chikna-sak’ (Polygonum plebeium var. plebeium) is eaten mainly in the rural areas of coastal West Bengal, where it is a very common in crop fields. It is remarkable that only a few people know the leaves of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis can be used as a tasty vegetable. The objective of this article is to make an appraisal of different species used as leaf-vegetables and leaf-salads. Further investigation in the closely related species of the here-enumerated 71 species might reveal their potential to be used as a leaf- vegetable and/or salad for human consumption across the world.

Key words: Fronds, India, Leaves, Plant species, Salad, Vegetable, West Bengal.

INTRODUCTION Normal foliage leaves and fronds of the vascular rural areas only. The present comprehensive report on (mainly dicotyledonous, a few the leaves and fronds used as human in West monocotyledonous and pteridophytic species) which Bengal will be helpful to explore more food for the are consumed by the general public as a vegetable mankind and for an alternative food supply across the and salad in West Bengal state have been discussed world. in this paper. The modified leaves such as floral (e.g. sepal, petal, etc.), scale (e.g. in the bulb of garlic, METHODS onion, etc.), seed leaves (i.e. cotyledons), etc. are The data presented here are based on the present beyond the purview of the present article. Besides author’s observation across the State of West Bengal vegetable and salad, various other uses of leaves and (in eastern India), including the Himalayan part fronds such as spices, masticatories, kitchen Darjeeling, covering all seasons over the last two accessories (leafy cup / plate), medicinal, germicidal, decades, and supported by some literature1-4. The etc. have been excluded from detailed discussion nomenclature of the species dealt with in this article here. There were some sketchy reports about is according to the International Code of consumption of leaves and fronds as a vegetable and Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants5. Correct salad in the context of erstwhile Bengal1, but no name (with ), synonyms (Syn.), Bengali / comprehensive report for the state was available so Hindi / English names, habit and habitat, distribution far regarding the relevant uses. Many such uses of (firstly, within the State of West Bengal, then world), leaves and fronds were not widely known beyond the uses and relevant notes have been provided. The state and the knowledge remained confined to the

685 www.ijapbc.com IJAPBC – Vol. 4(3), Jul - Sep, 2015 ISSN: 2277 - 4688 species are enumerated in alphabetical order under Distribution – Occasionally seen across the State. ‘observations’ below. The , , , Taiwan, Central, North and . OBSERVATIONS Uses & Notes – Fresh fronds, often with other fruit / The observations on the relevant uses of fronds and stem-vegetables e.g. brinjal, potato, etc., are cooked leaves have been discussed under the two broad and eaten in rural areas. The fresh fronds are also groups – pteridophytes and angiosperms, as follows: taken as a salad. This species is, however, less frequent than the following one – C. thalictroides. Pteridophytes Ampelopteris prolifera (Retz.) Copel. Ceratopteris thalictroides (L.) Brongn. (Thelypteridaceae). Syn. – Acrostichum thalictroides L. Syn. – Hemionitis prolifera Retz., Nephrodium Bengali & Hindi – Pani shak. English – Indian , proliferum Keys Water fern, Oriental water-fern. Bengali & Hindi – Dheki shak. Habit & Habitat – A tufted fern. Fronds dimorphic; Habit & Habitat – A creeping and spreading , sterile fronds lanceolate or deltoid, fertile fronds often rooting at the tips of the fronds. Fronds linear and dissected. Sori protected by reflexed unipinnate. Sori along veins. It grows near water margin. An aquatic or semi-aquatic () fern, sources, edges of and open moist places. often rooted on the substratum, also grows in Distribution – Frequently found throughout the submerged paddy fields. State, more common in the northern part. It is widely Distribution – It is common throughout the State, distributed in the tropics of the , , more common in the northern part. Pan-tropical. , the Mascarene Islands, tropical Uses & Notes – The frond is cooked and eaten in mainland to north-eastern Australia and New rural areas, also taken as a salad (rarely consumed in Caledonia. urban areas); a scarcity food. Tribal people in the Uses & Notes – Young tips of fronds, which keep on State consider it a laxative food. growing, are cooked and eaten in rural areas; those are aperient. Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw. (Athyriaceae). Syn. – Hemionitis esculentum Retz. Blechnum orientale L. (Blechnaceae). Bengali & Hindi – Dheki shak, Paloi shak. Syn. – Blechnum javanicum Bl. Habit & Habitat – A herb or small shrub with stout Bengali – Baro dheki shak. Hindi – Haththazori. caudex. Fronds bipinnate or tripinnate. Sori on both Habit & Habitat – A large, erect fern of hilly areas, sides of the veins, with double indusia. The fern is with peculiar circinate vernation, grows up to ca. 6 common in moist and shady places, edges of water- m. Fronds pinnately compound. Sori linear, bodies, often along streams in undisturbed areas. It continuous along the costae. A terrestrial fern, also grows in the homestead areas. usually grows in open sunny areas in hill slopes. Distribution – Throughout the State, frequent in the Distribution – Often seen growing in Terai, Duars northern part, particularly in Terai, Duars and and Darjeeling hills; not so common elsewhere. Darjeeling hill areas. India, , China, Throughout Asia, native to Australia. Taiwan, , , , Vietnam, Uses & Notes – Fresh fronds (also ) are Malesia, South- and ; pan-tropical. cooked and consumed as a scarcity vegetable; the Uses & Notes – Young fronds are cooked (often with curry is believed to be very effective against small shrimps and other vegetables such as potato, constipation. brinjal, gourd, etc.) and eaten as a tasty curry; also eaten in salads. It is said to be a good appetizer and Ceratopteris pteridoides (Hook.) Hiern (Parkeriaceae effective against constipation and leprosy. / Pteridaceae). Syn. – Parkeria pteridoides Hook. Diplazium polypodioides Bl. Bengali & Hindi – Pani shak. Syn. – Athyrium asperum (Bl.) Milde Habit & Habitat – Fronds dimorphic; sterile fronds Bengali & Hindi – Dheki shak. usually simple, or palmately lobed, fertile fronds Habit & Habitat – A large fern, somewhat looking dissected. Sori protected by reflexed margin. An like a tree fern. Fronds bipinnate or tripinnatifid. Sori aquatic or semi-aquatic (fresh water) fern, often in two oblique linear rows, with thin indusia. The rooted on the substratum, prefers humus-rich fern is common in rocky areas at higher elevations, deposits; also found in paddy fields. usually in undisturbed pockets, along water courses, also found on the forest fringes in the foot hill areas.

686 www.ijapbc.com IJAPBC – Vol. 4(3), Jul - Sep, 2015 ISSN: 2277 - 4688

Distribution – Particularly occurring in northern part Uses & Notes – Like A. cepa, the leaves of A. of the State – Terai, Duars and Darjeeling hills. India, sativum are also commonly taken as a vegetable and Bangladesh, , Indo-China, Malesia, north to spice, especially during the cold season. The garlic Taiwan. leaves and bulbs are stimulant and have tremendous Uses & Notes – Young fronds are cooked (often with medicinal properties for which it is considered as small shrimps or dried fishes, and other vegetables ‘ambrosia’ (in Bengali it is called “mortyer amrita”). such as potato, brinjal, gourd, etc.) and eaten as a tasty curry by the native people. Amaranthus blitum L. var. oleracea Duthie (Amaranthaceae). Marsilea minuta L. (). Bengali – Sada-notey, Sada-notia, Notiya shak. Syn. – Marsilea aegyptiaca Wall. Hindi – Chaulai, Marsa, Natiya sag. Bengali & Hindi – Shusni shak. English – Dwarf English – White . water , Small water clover. Habit & Habitat – A tall, stout, succulent, annual Habit & Habitat – A small fern, with creeping herb. It grows well in loamy soil, in sunny areas. . Fronds quadrifoliolate, with a long stalk. Distribution – Cultivated in many areas. India, Sporocarps many, wall hard. Sori enclosed in a Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, cultivated elsewhere in the sporocarp. An aquatic or semi-aquatic herb, grows at tropics. the edges of ponds and fresh water bodies, abundant Uses & Notes – Leaves are cooked and eaten. The in moist areas and paddy fields. Sporocarps are herb is fairly rich in minerals3. The older plants / usually produced in amphibious condition. leaves are fed to the cattle. Distribution – It is very common across the State. Throughout the tropical regions of Asia and Africa, Amaranthus caudatus L. lately introduced to the New World; widely Bengali – Ramdana-maris. Hindi – Ramadana. cultivated as well. English – Cat-tail, Inca , “Love Lies Uses & Notes – The fronds are cooked (mostly Bleeding”, Tumble weed. boiled, then fried with mustard oil) and eaten. It has a Habit & Habitat – An erect herb, stem striate, tinged special taste and flavour – a very popular leaf- with purple. It grows well in moist loamy soil in vegetable, and commonly consumed both in rural and sunny areas. urban areas. Many of the floras refer this plant to M. Distribution – Occasionally cultivated as an quadrifolia L., which occurs only in Kashmir3. ornamental in the State, sometimes a garden escape; not seen in the wild. India, elsewhere in the tropics. Angiosperms Uses & Notes – Used as a pot-herb; tender leaves are Allium cepa L. (Liliaceae). occasionally cooked and eaten. Bengali & Hindi – Pyanj. English – Onion. Habit & Habitat – A bulbous small herb. Terrestrial, Amaranthus spinosus L. prefers loamy soil. Bengali – Kanta-notey, Kanta-maris shak. Hindi – Distribution – Throughout the State. Widely Kantaili chaulai. English – Prickly Amaranth. cultivated in the Indian subcontinent and most parts Habit & Habitat – An erect, prickly, annual herb. of the world; in tropical regions, it is cultivated The plant is common in wastelands, cultivated fields, mainly in winter months for commercial purposes – ditches, edges of forests, around building sites, in for their leaves and bulbs. open areas, etc. Uses & Notes – The leaves are popularly eaten as a Distribution – Throughout the plains. The Indian vegetable, also used as a spice for having spicy subcontinent and cosmopolitan in warmer regions; of flavour. Local people believe it is an energetic leaf- presumed American origin. Cultivated and vegetable. naturalized. Uses & Notes – A tasty curry is prepared with its Allium sativum L. leaves and tender stems along with other vegetables; Bengali – Rosun. Hindi – Lasan. English – Garlic. sometimes cooked with small shrimps. It is said to Habit & Habitat – A bulbous small herb. Terrestrial, cure night blindness. prefers loamy soil. Distribution – Throughout the State. Widely Amaranthus tricolor L. cultivated in the Indian subcontinent and most parts Syn. – A. tristis L., A. gangeticus L., A. polygamus of the world; in tropical regions it is cultivated L., A. mangostanus L. particularly in winter months for commercial Bengali – Lal shak, Lal-notey, Lal-maris. Hindi – purposes – for their leaves and bulbs. Lal sag. English – Joseph’s Coat.

687 www.ijapbc.com IJAPBC – Vol. 4(3), Jul - Sep, 2015 ISSN: 2277 - 4688

Habit & Habitat – An erect, much leafy, stout, Habit & Habitat – A medium to large, deciduous annual herb; very variable in shape, size and colour tree, with dark and bitter wood. It is a mesophyte. of leaves. It prefers moist loamy soil in open sunny Distribution – Commonly planted throughout the areas, also found in waste places, roadside ditches, plains, from coastal belt northwards to Terai-Duars. It etc. is a native of , China and India; naturalized Distribution – Commonly cultivated throughout the throughout the area extending to . plains. The Indian subcontinent, throughout the Uses & Notes – Tender leaves, bitter in taste, are tropics of South and South-East Asia; native area fried or made curries (with other vegetables, e.g. blurred by cultivation; introduced and/or cultivated in potato, brinjal, fruits of the Drumstick tree – Moringa Africa, West Indies, etc. oleifera, etc.), which have a typical mild flavour, and Uses & Notes – The leaves and tender shoots are are popularly served as a starter in lunch (bitter preferably fried or a curry is prepared with other dishes are usually avoided in dinner). However, those vegetables such as potato, brinjal, etc.; tasty and should not be eaten frequently, as it may cause sweetish, it is a very popular vegetable in the State. It stomach upset. is rich in A (2,500-11,000 I.U. / 100 g) and (173 mg / 100 g), and contains fatty oil3. Bacopa monnieri (L.) Penn. (Scrophulariaceae). Forms with purplish coloured leaves are often grown Syn. – Lysimachia monnieri L., Bramia indica Lam., as an ornamental. Herpestis monnieria Kunth., nom. illeg. Amaranthus viridis L., pro parte, excl. syn. Bengali – Brahmi shak. Hindi – Brahmi sag. English Syn. – A. gracilis Desf. – Thyme Leaved Gratiola. Bengali – Ban-notey, Tuntuni-notey. Hindi – Jangli Habit & Habitat – A creeping-ascending, perennial, Chaulai. English – Green or Wild Amaranth. semi-succulent herb, rooting at the nodes. Found in Habit & Habitat – An erect, slender, glabrous, marshy places. annual herb; stem often tinged with purple. It is Distribution – Common all over the plains. common in wastelands, along roads, in open areas, Pantropical. sometimes a weed of cultivation. Uses & Notes – Leaves are occasionally made Distribution – Throughout the plains. Pantropics; curries. Leaf-juice is famous as a brain tonic, it wild and sometimes cultivated. improves intellect. It contains alkaloids – brahmine Uses & Notes – Leaves are cooked and eaten – tasty and herpestine, and a saponin – hersaponin, which and little sweetish (like ). Also, used as cattle has cardio-tonic action. . Basella alba L. (Basellaceae). Andrographis paniculata (N. Burm.) Wall. ex Nees Syn. – B. rubra L. (Acanthaceae). Bengali – Pui, Pui shak, Bon-pui. Hindi – Poi sag. Syn. – Justicia paniculata N. Burm. English – Indian Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Ceylon Bengali – Kalmegh (also called ‘Badmouri’ in some Spinach, Climbing / Creeping Spinach, Vine Spinach. villages). Hindi – Kirayat, Mahatita. English – Creat. Habit & Habitat – A perfectly glabrous, branched, Habit & Habitat – An erect, much branched, annual twinning or creeping, fleshy and succulent, perennial herb. It is common in open places, forest clearings, herb; stems purplish or greenish. It can grow in a on slopes, between rock boulders, etc. wide range of soils – loamy, clayey, lateritic, sandy Distribution – In all the districts. India, Bangladesh, and rocky situations. Sri Lanka. Wild and cultivated. Distribution – Abundant in the plains, occasionally Uses & Notes – The leaf (and the whole plant) is found at a very high altitude; mostly cultivated, extremely bitter in taste, occasionally pasted and fried sometimes escaped, rarely wild. It is widely to prepare ‘badas’, and few leaves are added to other cultivated in the Indian subcontinent, tropical Asia, vegetables to make a bitter curry – an appetizer. The Africa and America. B. alba – is native to the Indian plant is anthelmintic and very effective against subcontinent, South-East Asia and New Guinea. ailments of liver. Uses & Notes – The mucilaginous leaves and stems make a delicious curry (often with potato and gourd), Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (Meliaceae). which is nutritious and it can remove constipation; Syn. – Melia azadirachta L. very commonly eaten both in rural and urban areas. Bengali & Hindi – Nim. English – The Margosa or Neem tree. Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn. (Cucurbitaceae). Syn. – B. cerifera Savi

688 www.ijapbc.com IJAPBC – Vol. 4(3), Jul - Sep, 2015 ISSN: 2277 - 4688

Bengali – Chal kumra. Hindi – Petha. English – Ash Habit & Habitat – A stout, annual herb. It can be Gourd. grown in various soil types, e.g. loam, clay, rocky, Habit & Habitat – A large climber. It grows best in saline, etc. humus rich loamy soil, also found in other soils. Distribution – Thoroughly cultivated across the Distribution – Cultivated generally. India, State. It is cultivated worldwide; native to the Bangladesh, elsewhere in the tropics. Mediterranean region. Uses & Notes – Chiefly cultivated for its fruit- Uses & Notes – The leaves are one of the most vegetable; the leaves and stems are also cooked and popular vegetables in West Bengal; usually cooked, eaten. sometimes eaten as a salad. Red is preferred for pickling. A large number of cabbage varieties are Boerhavia repens L. (Nyctaginaceae). now cultivated in West Bengal. The red cultivars are Bengali – Punni-shak, Punarnaba. Hindi – Sant. a fairly good source of A, B and C and English – Spreading Hog-weed. minerals. Normally, it is a cold season crop; Habit & Habitat – A diffusely branched creeping sometimes leaves are preserved dried for use in out of herb. It is common in waste places, roadsides, dry or season. Also used as feed for livestock and chicken. moist open areas, post-harvest paddy fields, secondary forests, etc. L. ssp. campestris (L.) Clapham var. Distribution – Common throughout the State. campestris Pantropics. Syn. – B. rapa L., B. campestris L., Sinapis Uses & Notes – The leaves are commonly cooked dichotoma Roxb. and eaten, little sweetish curry. Active constituent is Bengali – Kalo sorsey. Hindi – Kala sarson. English an alkaloid – punarnavine. The correct spelling of the – Black Mustard. genus is Boerhavia, not Boerhaavia, since Linnaeus Habit & Habitat – An erect, annual, glaucous herb, used the former. tuberous. It can grow in diverse soil types, e.g. loam, clay, rocky, etc. (L.) Czern. (Cruciferae / Distribution – Cultivated, also found as an escape in Brassicaceae). waste places and fields. It is cultivated throughout the Syn. – Sinapis juncea L. world; native to the Mediterranean region. Bengali – Rai-sarisha, Chanchi, Jhuni. Hindi – Rai. Uses & Notes – Leaves are employed to make a tasty English – Indian Red Mustard. curry. The leaves of Brassica rapa L. ssp. campestris Habit & Habitat – An erect, annual herb. It can (L.) Clapham var. glauca (Roxb.) Watt. (Hindi – Pila grow in a variety of soils, e.g. loam, clay, laterite, etc. sarson sag) is also commonly cultivated and used as a Distribution – Cultivated, also found as an escape in vegetable. waste places and fields. India, Bangladesh, China, cultivated across the world. Centella asiatica (L.) Urban (Umbelliferae / Uses & Notes – Leaves are prepared delicious curries Apiaceae). (having a typical flavour), which is said to be Syn. – Hydrocotyle asiatica L. nutritious; also pickled. Bengali – Thankuni. Hindi – Thol-khuri sag. English – Indian Pennywort. (L.) Koch Habit & Habitat – A prostrate or creeping herb, with Syn. – Sinapis nigra L. perennial stock, rooting at nodes. It prefers wet Bengali – Kalo rai. Hindi – Banarasi rai. English – places, near nalas, ponds, at river banks, etc. Black or True Mustard. Distribution – Common throughout the plains, less Habit & Habitat – An erect, annual herb. It can be common at higher elevations. It is widespread in grown well in loam, clay, etc. warmer regions of the world; also cultivated. Distribution – Cultivated, also found as an escape. It Uses & Notes – Leaves are pasted and made ‘badas’ / is grown throughout the world. curries / soups, which has a pleasant flavour and Uses & Notes – Young leaves consumed as a taste, are good for liver and blood as well. Also, used vegetable. Seedlings are added to salads. as a salad. It is one of the most popular leaf- vegetables, and eaten throughout the State. Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata L. Bengali – Bandha-kofi, Bandha. Hindi – Band-gobi, album L. (Chenopodiaceae). Patta-gobhi. English – Cabbage. Bengali – Betho-shak, Bethua-shak. Hindi – Bathua sag. English – Lamb’s Quarters, Goose foot, -hen.

689 www.ijapbc.com IJAPBC – Vol. 4(3), Jul - Sep, 2015 ISSN: 2277 - 4688

Habit & Habitat – An erect or ascending, annual given in soups. It is good for liver and is effective herb; leaves variable in shape and size, white mealy against bilious affections, usually taken after stomach when young. Often a weed in cultivated ground and upsets. found in waste places. Distribution – In all districts in the plains, Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott (Araceae). commonly cultivated in winter months (Dec.– Jan.). Syn. – Arum esculentum L., C. antiquorum Schott The Indian subcontinent; a native of . Bengali – Kachu shak. Hindi – Saru sag, Arvi. Uses & Notes – The leaves are cooked and eaten; the English – Cocoyam. curry is said to be laxative and anthelmintic. The Habit & Habitat – A rhizomatous, erect, perennial, plant contains carotene and Vitamin C. The closely succulent herb. A water-loving plant; it grows related species – C. ambrosioides L. (English name – abundantly in marshy places, edges of water bodies, Mexican tea), which is also a common weed in the along the banks of nalahs, streams, etc. State, however, is not seen to be eaten as a vegetable. Distribution – Common throughout the State, less common at higher elevations. India, Bangladesh, Cicer arietinum L. (Leguminosae / Fabaceae). , Sri Lanka. Widely cultivated, often seen to Bengali – Chola. Hindi – Chana, Choley. English – escape. Now many cultivars are grown. The Gram, Bengal Gram, Chick-Pea. Uses & Notes – Young leaves (and especially the Habit & Habitat – A small herb. It grows well in rhizomes) are cooked and eaten; sometimes cooked loamy soil, and improves fertility of the land. with small shrimps or preferably with the head Distribution – Cultivated in the plains. C. arietinum portion of the Hilsa fish. – originated in South-East Turkey. It is now cultivated in the warmer regions worldwide. capsularis L. (Tiliaceae). Uses & Notes – Leaves, with other vegetables e.g. Bengali – Tita-pat shak. Hindi – Narcha sag. English potato, brinjal etc., are made a curry, which is said to – White . be nutritious. Habit & Habitat – A slender, unbranched undershrub. It grows best in loam. Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. et Nakai Distribution – Cultivated in various parts of the (Cucurbitaceae). State. The Indian subcontinent and cultivated in Syn. – C. vulgaris Schrad. tropical . Also, found in waste places as an Bengali & Hindi – Tarbuj, Tarmuj. English – The escape from cultivation. Water-Melon. Uses & Notes – Young leaves, bitter in taste, are Habit & Habitat – An annual creeper. Best yield is prepared curries with other vegetables, also pasted to in sandy and loamy soils. make ‘badas’ usually served as a starter. Distribution – Thoroughly cultivated in the plains, particularly along the coastal zones. It is a native of Corchorus olitorius L. South-West Africa; now widely cultivated in the Bengali – Mitha-pat shak, Desi-pat. Hindi – Mitha- warmer world for its fascinating fruit. pat sag. English – Jew’s Mallow. Uses & Notes – Young leaves are pasted and made Habit & Habitat – A slender, unbranched ‘badas’ (local cakes) and curries are eaten mainly in undershrub. It grows best in loam. villages. After harvest of fruits, the plant is fed to the Distribution – Cultivated in the plains (like C. cattle. capsularis). The Indian subcontinent, Africa and cultivated elsewhere in the tropics. Also, found in Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt (Cucurbitaceae). waste places as an escape from cultivation. Syn. – Bryonia grandis L., Cephalandra indica (Wt. Uses & Notes – Young leaves, which are sweetish, et Arn.) Naud. are prepared delicious curries with other vegetables, Bengali – Telakucha, Bon-kundri. Hindi – Ban- e.g. potato, gourd, brinjal, etc. kundri. English – Ivy gourd. Habit & Habitat – A monoecious, climbing herb. It Coriandrum sativum L. (Umbelliferae / Apiaceae). grows best in moderate climate. Bengali – Dhonia-pata, Dhoney-pata. Hindi – Distribution – Frequently found on the hedges, in Dhanya-patta. English – Coriander. waste places, in the outskirts of villages, etc. Habit & Habitat – A glabrous, aromatic, annual Pantropical. herb. It prefers to grow in loamy soil. Uses & Notes – Leaves are pasted (preferably with Distribution – Cultivated across the State all the year potato) and made ‘badas’, which are little bitter but round, particularly in winter months (Dec. – Jan.). tasty, served as an appetizer; also made curries and

690 www.ijapbc.com IJAPBC – Vol. 4(3), Jul - Sep, 2015 ISSN: 2277 - 4688

Widely cultivated throughout the Indian Habit & Habitat – An annual creeper or climber. It subcontinent. grows well in loam, clay, red-soil, etc. Uses & Notes – The leaves are added to curries (as a Distribution – Cultivated generally. India, flavouring agent), prepared chutneys and sauces, also Bangladesh, elsewhere in the tropics. used as a salad; consumed throughout the State. Uses & Notes – Young leaves and stems are cooked and eaten. Cucumis melo L. var. melo (Cucurbitaceae). Bengali – Kharbuj, Kharmuj. Hindi – Kharbuja. Dregea volubilis (L. f.) Benth. ex Hook. f. English – Musk Melon, Sweet Melon. (Asclepiadaceae). Syn. – Asclepias volubilis L. f., Habit & Habitat – An annual creeper. It prefers Wattakaka volubilis (L. f.) Stapf sandy and loamy soils. Bengali – Titakunga. Hindi – Nak-chhikni. Distribution – Commonly cultivated in the plains. It Habit & Habitat – A stout, perennial climber. Found is widely cultivated in the tropics. in scrub forests, along roads on bushes. Uses & Notes – Leaves are cooked and eaten Distribution – Common in the plains. India, especially in rural areas. Leaves of C. melo L. var. Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Java, Malaysia, China, momordica Duthie et Fuller (Bengali & Hindi – Taiwan. Phuti) and C. melo L. var. utilissimus Duthie et Fuller Uses & Notes – Young leaves are sometimes made (Bengali – Kakur; Hindi – Kakri; English – Snake curries with other vegetables and eaten in rural areas. Cucumber) are also sometimes used as a vegetable. Enydra fluctuans Lour. (Compositae / ). Cucumis sativus L. Bengali – Hingcha. Hindi – Harkuch. Bengali – Sasa, Khira. Hindi – Khira. English – Habit & Habitat – A glabrous, perennial herb. It Cucumber. grows in aquatic to semi-aquatic (fresh water) and Habit & Habitat – An annual creeper. It prefers marshy areas; very common at the edges of ponds, sandy and loamy soils. lakes, rivers, etc. Distribution – Widely cultivated. Pantropical in Distribution – Common throughout the plains, less cultivation. common at higher elevations. Tropical Asia and Uses & Notes – Leaves are occasionally used as a Africa. vegetable. Now different cultivars of C. sativus are Uses & Notes – Slightly bitter in taste, the leaves and grown; their leaves are also cooked and eaten. young shoots are cooked and eaten; the curry is said to be a good blood purifier and appetizer; also used in Cucurbita maxima Duch. ex Lam. (Cucurbitaceae). salads. The correct spelling of the genus is Enydra, Bengali – (Misti-) Kumra / Kumro. Hindi – Mitha- and not Enhydra as published in some literature. kaddu. English – The Gourd, Red Gourd. Habit & Habitat – An annual creeper or climber. It Glinus lotoides L. (Aizoaceae / Molluginaceae). can be grown well in loam, clay, etc. Syn. – Mollugo hirta Thunb., M. lotoides (L.) O. Distribution – Cultivated abundantly in the plains, Ktze. sometimes at higher elevations. India, Bangladesh, Bengali – Dusera shak. Hindi – Gandibudi sag. cultivated elsewhere in the tropics. Habit & Habitat – An annual herb. Found in open Uses & Notes – Young leaves are often cooked with areas, waste places, cultivated fields, rangelands, etc. other vegetables and eaten; rarely eaten as a salad. Distribution – Common in the plains. Pantropical. Uses & Notes – Tender shoots are eaten as a Cucurbita moschata Duch. ex Poir. vegetable in rural areas, when reeling with food Bengali & Hindi – Safra kumrah. crisis. Habit & Habitat – An annual creeper or climber. It prefers loam and sand. Glinus oppositifolius (L.) A. DC. Distribution – Cultivated. India, Bangladesh, Syn. – Mollugo oppositifolia L., M. spergula L. elsewhere in the tropics. Bengali – Gima shak. Hindi – Jima sag. Uses & Notes – Tender shoots are cooked and eaten Habit & Habitat – An annual, creeping-ascending especially in rural areas. herb. Found in open areas, waste places, cultivated fields, around ponds, etc. Cucurbita pepo L. Distribution – Common in the plains. Pantropical; Bengali – Sada-kumra, Gol-lau. Hindi – Safed- also, cultivated. kaddu. English – The Pumpkin, Field Pumpkin.

691 www.ijapbc.com IJAPBC – Vol. 4(3), Jul - Sep, 2015 ISSN: 2277 - 4688

Uses & Notes – Tender shoots, bitter in taste, are although it has been introduced and/or migrated to made curries or ‘badas’ with other vegetables, served almost all areas of the world. Ancient Egyptians first as an appetizer; considered stomachic as well. domesticated and cultivated . Uses & Notes – A costly salad in West Bengal, Hygrophila schulli (Ham.) M.R. & S.M. Almeida occasionally eaten; rarely used as a vegetable, in (Acanthaceae). soups and . It is chiefly valued for its Syn. – Bahel schulli Ham., Asteracantha longifolia and vitamin content. (L.) Nees, Hygrophila auriculata (K. Schum.) Heine, H. spinosa T. Anders. Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl. (Cucurbitaceae). Bengali – Kulekhara. Hindi – Gokhula kanta, Kanta Syn. – L. vulgaris Ser. kulika. Bengali – Lau. Hindi – Lauki. English – Bottle Habit & Habitat – An erect, hispid herb, with dense Gourd. whorls of spines. An aquatic or semi-, Habit & Habitat – A large climber. Fruits white or common in ditches, moist / marshy places, along the green, somewhat elongated (bottle-shaped). It prefers edges of ponds and other fresh water bodies, post- loam, but can be grown in other soils. harvest paddy fields, etc. Distribution – Commonly cultivated throughout the Distribution – Common throughout the State, State, in warmer regions. The Indian subcontinent uncommon at higher elevations in Darjeeling. India, and cultivated elsewhere in the tropics. Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Africa. A wild species, Uses & Notes – Young leaves (Bengali: Lau shak) sometimes cultivated as it is a frequent vegetable and stems (Bengali: Lau danta) are a popular particularly in rural areas. vegetable, made curries; it is believed to be good for Uses & Notes – Leaves and young stems are cooked blood and liver, also improves appetite and taste. The and eaten, good in taste. Remarkably, its fresh leaf- plant is grown all the year round for its edible fruits, juice (also curry) is an effective blood purifier and is stems and leaves. The fruit is a good source of highly anti-anaemic, therefore usually eaten after vitamins B and C. malaria6. Melilotus alba Medik. ex Desr. (Leguminosae / Ipomoea aquatica Forssk. (Convolvulaceae). Fabaceae). Syn. – I. reptans Poir. Bengali – Sada Ban-methi. Hindi – Safed Ban-methi. Bengali – Kolmi shak. Hindi – Kalmi sag, Karmi, English – White Sweet-clover, White Melilot. Patua sag. English – Swamp cabbage, Water spinach. Habit & Habitat – An erect, small, annual herb. It is Habit & Habitat – A creeping herb, stem elongated, a field-weed, appearing in the cold season (Dec. – internodes hollow, emitting roots at the nodes. Jan.). Aquatic or semi-aquatic (usually fresh water), often Distribution – Common in the plains, throughout the floating on the surface of ponds, marshes, etc. or State. India, Bangladesh, China, Tibet, W. & C. Asia, prostrate on wet mud, where water has recently stood. Europe, Africa, Mongolia, Siberia; introduced into Distribution – Very common in the plains. India, Malaysia, Australia, E. Asia and America. Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka; a native of Old Uses & Notes – A leaf-vegetable, occasionally eaten World tropics. Widely cultivated. by the under-privileged people in rural areas. Used as Uses & Notes – A very popular vegetable; the leaves a fodder. and young shoots are mostly fried or a curry is prepared with other vegetables, sometimes used in Mollugo pentaphylla L. (Molluginaceae). salads; little sweetish in taste. It is relatively easy to Bengali – Ghora / Pita gima, Khet-papra. digest compared to other leaf-vegetables; a good Habit & Habitat – A creeping-ascending, annual source of minerals and vitamins, especially carotene. herb. It grows in wet, open grassy areas, along roads It is also a green fodder of high nutritive value. and rivers, waste places, etc. Distribution – Common in the plains. India, east to Lactuca sativa L. (Compositae / Asteraceae). China, Japan, Malaysia, Australia. Bengali & Hindi – Salad. English – The Garden Uses & Notes – The leaves, bitter in taste, are cooked Lettuce. and served as a starter; also, stomachic and aperient. Habit & Habitat – An herb, looking somewhat like a M. pentaphylla differs from M. stricta L. (1762) in cabbage. It flourishes in loamy soil. having areolate seeds (seeds are tuberculate in M. Distribution – Cultivated in the cold weather, but not stricta). so widely in the State. The native range of L. sativa spreads from the Mediterranean regions to Siberia, L. (Cucurbitaceae).

692 www.ijapbc.com IJAPBC – Vol. 4(3), Jul - Sep, 2015 ISSN: 2277 - 4688

Bengali – Uchche, Korola. Hindi – Karela. English taste of the tongue after viral fever. The vegetable use – Bitter gourd. of the leaves of N. arbor-tristis is less known in Habit & Habitat – A creeping or climbing annual villages, and almost unknown in urban areas. herb. It grows well in loamy and clayey soils. Distribution – Widely cultivated in the plains, Ocimum tenuiflorum L. (Labiatae / Lamiaceae). throughout the State. India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Syn. – O. sanctum L. Sri Lanka, cultivated elsewhere in the tropics. Also, Bengali & Hindi – Tulsi. English – The Holy Basil, found as an escape. the Sacred Basil. Uses & Notes – Tender shoots and leaves are pasted Habit & Habitat – A profusely branched (often with potato) and made delicious ‘badas’ or undershrub. It grows well in moderate climate, in cakes, served as an appetizer and it revives taste buds loam to clay. after fever; also those are made curries with other Distribution – Throughout the State; widely vegetables. It is good for liver and is effective against cultivated as a holy family-plant, also found as bilious affections. Leaves are a source of calcium, escape from cultivation. The Indian subcontinent, carotene, riboflavin and ascorbic acid. M. charantia S.W. Asia, Myanmar, Nepal, China, Thailand, L. var. charantia (Bengali – Korola; fruits larger) and Malaysia and Australia. var. muricata (Willd.) Chakrav. (Bengali – Uchche; Uses & Notes – The holy leaves are sometimes taken fruits smaller) are both widely cultivated in the State. as a salad, which is stomachic as well. Two types of this plant are common – the green type (called ‘Sri Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng. Tulsi’) and the purple type (called ‘Krishna Tulsi’). Bengali – Kakrol. Hindi – Gulkakra. The name O. sanctum is, however, much more Habit & Habitat – A creeper or climber. It grows popular than the correct name of the species O. best in loam. tenuiflorum. Distribution – Now thoroughly cultivated in the plains. India, cultivated elsewhere in the tropics. Oxalis corniculata L. (Oxalidaceae). Uses & Notes – Young leaves are cooked and eaten. Bengali – Amrul, Amrul shak. Hindi – Amboti, Amrul sag. English – Indian . Lam. (Moringaceae). Habit & Habitat – A small, creeping, perennial Syn. – M. pterygosperma Gaertn. herb; variable in shape and size of leaflets, and Bengali – Sajina, Sojne shak. Hindi – Sainjna / degree of hairiness. It occurs in cultivated ground, Saijan sag. English – Drumstick tree, Horse gardens, by roadsides, river banks, edges of ponds tree. and forests, wall-margins, shady places, etc. Habit & Habitat – A small, weak tree, with corky Distribution – Common everywhere. Pantropical; bark, soft wood and pungent smell. It can grow in wild, also cultivated. moist to arid / semi-arid situations. Uses & Notes – The leaves are sour in taste, made Distribution – Commonly planted in gardens in the curries, chutneys, pickles, etc., which are quite plains, also self-sown. The Indian subcontinent, popular and said to be effective against amoeboid Africa, Turkey. dysentery, and it helps to regain taste of the tongue Uses & Notes – Young leaves, rich in vitamins A and after viral fever. Also, used as a salad. Leaves are a C, are fried or made curries (often with coconut- good source of oxalic acid, Vitamin C and carotene. endosperm), which is indeed a delicious dish. Paederia foetida L. (Rubiaceae). Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. (Verbenaceae). Bengali – Gandal-pata. Hindi – Gandhali, Somraj. Bengali – Siuli, Sefali. Hindi – Harsinghar, Seoli. Habit & Habitat – A slender, shrubby climber. It is English – Night Jasmine. found in open areas and edges of forests, on the Habit & Habitat – A large shrub or small tree, hedges. deciduous. A mesophytic species, it grows in loamy Distribution – Common in the central and southern to rocky situations. parts. India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Indo-China, Distribution – Fairly common in all gardens; also Malaysia. Wild, occasionally planted in the gardens. found inside dry mixed deciduous forests on slopes. Uses & Notes – Interestingly, fresh leaves when India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, pasted in mortar and pestle, emits an unpleasant cultivated elsewhere in the tropics. smell, but when cooked – made ‘badas’ or cakes and Uses & Notes – Young leaves are pasted in mortar given in soups / curries, is quite tasty without such and pestle, prepared ‘badas’ or cakes, also used in smell. It is a favourite leaf-vegetable among the soups; it has a pleasant flavour and it helps to regain native people. It removes bowel troubles.

693 www.ijapbc.com IJAPBC – Vol. 4(3), Jul - Sep, 2015 ISSN: 2277 - 4688

Polycarpon prostratum (Forsk.) Aschers. & vesicarius L. (). Schweinf. (Caryophyllaceae). Bengali – Tak-palang. Hindi – Chuka sag, Chuka- Syn. – Alsine prostrata Forsk., Polycarpon palak sag. English – Bladder Dock. loeflingiae (Wall. ex Wt. et Arn.) Benth. et Habit & Habitat – An erect, pale green, annual herb. Hook. f. It grows well in loamy soil. Bengali – Ghima. Hindi – Sureta. Distribution – Occasionally cultivated in the plains. Habit & Habitat – A prostrate or decumbent- India, Bangladesh. ascending, annual herb. In open, moist or dry areas, Uses & Notes – Leaves and tender stems, which is post-harvest paddy fields, wastelands, rangelands, sour in taste, is prepared chutneys, also a sour curry etc. with other vegetables such as brinjal, cocoyam, etc. It Distribution – Common throughout. India, tropical helps to regain taste of the tongue after various Asia, Africa. ailments; commonly consumed in rural areas. Uses & Notes – Leaves are made curries, a scarcity vegetable. Spinacia oleracea L. (Chenopodiaceae). Bengali – Palang / Palak shak. Hindi – Palak sag. Polygonum plebeium R. Br. var. plebeium English – Garden Spinach. (Polygonaceae). Habit & Habitat – A succulent herb. It grows well Syn. – P. roxburghii Meisn. in loamy soil. Bengali – Chikna shak, Dubia shak. Hindi – Distribution – Widely cultivated throughout the Raniphul. State, a crop of young plants is very common Habit & Habitat – A prostrate, diffusely branched especially in winter months (Dec. – Jan.); pan- herb; stems often purple tinged. A weed in cultivated tropical in cultivation. S. oleracea – is native to ground; it is fairly common in paddy fields, marshy central and south- (Iran and situations, waste places, etc. neighbouring countries). Ancient Arab traders carried Distribution – Abundant in coastal areas of the State, spinach into India. not so common in other parts. Paleotropics. Uses & Notes – Leaves nutritious, spinach curry is Uses & Notes – Leaves are cooked and eaten. It is very popular, perhaps a must menu in the cold season available in winter months (Dec. – Feb.) and is said in every family; also employed in soups and salads. to cure bowel complaints. Suaeda maritima Dum. (Chenopodiaceae). Raphanus sativus L. (Cruciferae / Brassicaceae). Syn. – S. nudiflora Moq. Bengali – Mulo / Mula shak. Hindi – Muli sag. Bengali – Geria shak. Hindi – Khari-lani sag. English – Radish. English – Common Indian Saltwort. Habit & Habitat – A stout, annual herb. It grows Habit & Habitat – A succulent herb or under-shrub. best in loamy soil, rich in humus. It grows in marshes. Distribution – Commonly cultivated. It is now Distribution – Abundant in sea-shores (the Bay of grown in different parts of the world. Bengal). Along coastal beaches worldwide; an Uses & Notes – Tender leaves are fried or made Eurasian element. curries, which are liked due to its typical flavour. It is Uses & Notes – Leaves are sometimes cooked and mainly a cold weather crop, but cultivated in other eaten. seasons as well. Mature leaves are used as fodder. Tamarindus indica L. (Leguminosae / Fabaceae). Rorippa indica (L.) Hiern (Cruciferae / Bengali – Tentul (-pata). Hindi – Imli, Amli (-patta). Brassicaceae). English – Tamarind. Syn. – Sisymbrium indicum L., Nasturtium indicum Habit & Habitat – A large, evergreen tree. It occurs (L.) DC. in loamy to clayey soils. Bengali – Bon sorisa. Distribution – A common tree in the State. Habit & Habitat – An erect, annual or biennial herb. Pantropical, supposed to be a native of Africa. It grows well in loamy soil. Uses & Notes – Tender-most leaves, sour in taste, are Distribution – A common weed in cultivated fields made chutneys / sour-curries. and in marshy areas. India, Bangladesh, China, Japan, Malaysia. Trichosanthes anguina L. (Cucurbitaceae). Uses & Notes – The leaves are made curries Bengali – Chichinga. Hindi – Chachinda. English – occasionally, a scarcity vegetable. Snake Gourd.

694 www.ijapbc.com IJAPBC – Vol. 4(3), Jul - Sep, 2015 ISSN: 2277 - 4688

Habit & Habitat – A considerable climber, fruits of a number of species of the families Cucurbitaceae hanging. It grows well in moist loamy soil. and Cruciferae / Brassicaceae are edible. Among the Distribution – Cultivated fairly generally throughout genera, Amaranthus offering five species is the most the plains. The Indian subcontinent and grown prominent one in the State as regards the number of elsewhere in the tropics. Also, found as an escape. species taken as a leaf-vegetable. Further Uses & Notes – Leaves are fried or made curries investigation in the closely related species of the occasionally, a scarcity vegetable. above-enumerated 71 plant members might reveal their potential to be used as a leaf-vegetable and/or Trichosanthes dioica Roxb. salad for human consumption across the world. Bengali – Potol (-pata). Hindi – Palwal / Parwal (- Human teeth pattern is more suitable to vegetarian patta). English – Pointed Gourd, Parwal. dishes than being ‘non-veg’ or carnivorous. However, Habit & Habitat – A creeping, dense, annual herb. It leaf-vegetables and salads should not be eaten during flourishes in loamy soil. stomach upset, as those are not easy to digest Distribution – Commonly cultivated all over the compared to the fruit-vegetables; after seven days (at plains. India, Bangladesh. Also, found as an escape least) from complete recovery, the leaf-vegetables from cultivation. and salads can be consumed again. For the same Uses & Notes – The leaves are bitter (but, the fruits reason (i.e. as those are not digestion-friendly), the are not bitter), fried or made into a curry, served as an leaf-vegetables and salads should preferably be appetizer. It is good for liver and revives taste buds. avoided in dinner. While ‘Palang’ is Spinacia oleracea belonging to the Trigonella corniculata L. (Leguminosae / Fabaceae). family Chenopodiaceae, ‘Tak-palang’ is Rumex Bengali – Piring shak. Hindi – Kasuri-methi / vesicarius of the family Polygonaceae; the former is Kasturi-methi / Champa-methi sag. sweetish and widely consumed across the State, but Habit & Habitat – An erect, annual herb. It grows the latter is sour (sour = ‘tak’ in Bengali) in taste and better in loamy soil. occasionally eaten in rural areas. Distribution – Cultivated in the plains, also found as The most commonly eaten leaf-vegetables are – an escape from cultivation. India, Bangladesh, Sri Marsilea minuta, Amaranthus tricolor, Azadirachta Lanka. indica, Basella alba, Brassica oleracea var. capitata, Uses & Notes – A curry of its leaves and tender Centella asiatica, Glinus oppositifolius, Ipomoea stems having a typical flavour is a savoury dish; a aquatica, Lagenaria siceraria, Raphanus sativus, cold weather crop. The plant contains the alkaloid – Spinacia oleracea and Trigonella foenum-graecum. diosgenin. Also, used as fodder. ‘Chikna-sak’ (Polygonum plebeium var. plebeium) is consumed mainly in the rural areas of coastal West Trigonella foenum-graecum L. Bengal. It is noteworthy that very few people know Bengali – Methi shak. Hindi – Methi / Muthi sag. the leaves of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis are crushed and English – , Fenugreek. pasted with a little water in a mortar-pestle and a Habit & Habitat – An erect, annual herb. It prefers tasty ‘bara’ or a kind of local cake can be prepared loamy soil. (after little frying). However, the medicinal use of the Distribution – Commonly cultivated throughout the aqueous leaf extract of N. arbor-tristis, which is an plains, also found as an escape from cultivation. The effective febrifuge, is well known. People in villages Indian subcontinent, Arabia, southern Europe. believe that the curry of Marsilea minuta induces Uses & Notes – Leaves and tender stems, along with sound sleep. other vegetables e.g. potato, gourd, brinjal, etc. are Unlike fruit-salads e.g. cucumber and tomatoes (and made into a tasty curry having a special flavour. The leaf-vegetables), leaf-salads are relatively less plant contains the alkaloid – trigonelline. The plant is consumed in West Bengal. The Garden Lettuce also used as fodder and grown for soil improvement. (Lactuca sativa), not so much cultivated in the State, Usually it is a cold season crop. is occasionally taken as a salad. Leaves of Indian Pennywort – Centella asiatica and the Holy Basil – Ocimum tenuiflorum, which are abundant in the DISCUSSION State, are also occasionally eaten raw with fruit- Leaves and fronds of different species, whether eaten salads, albeit their varied medicinal uses are well as a vegetable or salad or both in West Bengal State, known to all. However, the fresh leaves of Coriander can be seen at a glance in Table 1. A total of 71 plant – Coriandrum sativum, being an adjunct to fruit- species / subspecies / varieties (pteridophyta – 7, and salads, are often consumed throughout the State. angiosperms – 64) have been recorded here. Leaves

695 www.ijapbc.com IJAPBC – Vol. 4(3), Jul - Sep, 2015 ISSN: 2277 - 4688

Some leaf-vegetables are seasonal, e.g. Brassica spp., modified) crops already available in the market, Raphanus sativus, Trigonella spp., Spinacia hopefully many such crops of leaf-vegetables will oleracea, Allium spp. etc.; those are essentially cold come up in near future. season crops, but are cultivated in other seasons as The knowledge gathered particularly from the people well (also available from cold storage throughout the in rural areas of West Bengal about different leaf- year). These apart, other leaf-crops are grown all year vegetables and leaf-salads needs to be integrated with round. modern agricultural methods, and properly Some leaves appear in the kitchen as almost documented7. The information given in this paper unavoidable ingredient in curries – as spice, such as might be useful for food and biologists as the leaves of Cinnamomum tamala Nees et Eberm. well as concerned planners for further studies on (in Bengali & Hindi – Tejpata; family Lauraceae; better utilization and large-scale production of the fresh or dried leaves), Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng. relevant crops to feed the hunger of burgeoning (in Bengali & Hindi – Currypata; Rutaceae; usually human population across the globe. fresh leaves), and Coriander – Coriandrum sativum (fresh leaves; treated under ‘observations’ above). ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS And the fresh leaves of Piper betle L. (Bengali & The author is thankful to the Director of the Botanical Hindi – Pan; English – Betel; Piperaceae) are widely Survey of India, Kolkata for allowing him to consult used as a masticatory with areca nuts. the library in the herbarium CAL. Leaf-vegetables are cheaper, easily affordable to the under-privileged people. Like many GM (genetically

Table 1 Leaves and fronds consumed as vegetables and salads in West Bengal Eaten as Species of angiosperms and pteridophytes Vegetable Leaves: Allium cepa, A. sativum, Amaranthus blitum var. oleracea, A. caudatus, A. spinosus, A. tricolor, A. viridis, Andrographis paniculata, Azadirachta indica, Bacopa monnieri, Basella alba, Benincasa hispida, Boerhavia repens, Brassica juncea, B. rapa ssp. campestris var. campestris, B. rapa ssp. campestris var. glauca, , Cicer arietinum, Citrullus lanatus, Coccinia grandis, Colocasia esculenta, Corchorus capsularis, C. olitorius, Cucumis melo var. melo, C. melo var. momordica, C. melo var. utilissimus, C. sativus, Cucurbita moschata, C. pepo, Dregea volubilis, Glinus lotoides, G. oppositifolius, Hygrophila schulli, Lagenaria siceraria, Melilotus alba, Mollugo pentaphylla, Momordica charantia var. charantia, M. charantia var. muricata, M. cochinchinensis, Moringa oleifera, Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, Paederia foetida, Polycarpon prostratum, Polygonum plebeium var. plebeium, Raphanus sativus, Rorippa indica, Rumex vesicarius, Suaeda maritima, Tamarindus indica, Trichosanthes anguina, T. dioica, Trigonella corniculata, T. foenum-graecum.

Fronds: Ampelopteris prolifera, Blechnum orientale, Diplazium polypodioides, Marsilea minuta.

Salad Leaves: Ocimum tenuiflorum.

Both Leaves: Brassica nigra, B. oleracea var. capitata, Centella asiatica, Coriandrum sativum, Cucurbita maxima, Enydra fluctuans, Ipomoea aquatica, Lactuca sativa, Oxalis corniculata, Spinacia oleracea.

Fronds: Ceratopteris pteridoides, C. thalictroides, Diplazium esculentum.

REFERENCES Communication, Council of Scientific & 1. Prain D. Bengal Plants. Vols. I & II, Calcutta, Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986. 1903. 4. Ghosh SR, Ghosh B, Biswas A, Ghosh RK. The 2. Hodge WH. Fern food of Japan and the problem Pteridophytic Flora of Eastern India. Vol. 1, of toxicity. Amer. Fern J., 1973; 63 (1): 77-80. Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata, 2004. 3. Ambasta SP (Ed.-in-Chief). The Useful Plants 5. Mcneill J. et al. International Code of of India. National Institute of Science Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants

696 www.ijapbc.com IJAPBC – Vol. 4(3), Jul - Sep, 2015 ISSN: 2277 - 4688

(Melbourne Code). Koeltz Scientific Books, 7. Poorna RL, Mymoon M, Hariharan A. 2012. Preservation and protection of traditional 6. Panda S. Medicinal uses of some plants in knowledge – diverse documentation initiatives coastal West Bengal, India. In: Herbal Folk across the globe. Current Science, 2014; 107 Medicine (Editor: Nehra S). Pointer Publishers, (8): 1240-1246. Jaipur, 2014.

697