J. Econ. Tax. Bot. Vol.

2 (1981)

EDIBLE WILD PLANTS OF EASTERN RAJASTHAN

V. S in g h a n d P a r a m jit S in g h

Botanical Survey o f India. Jodhpur-342003

ABSTRACT

E The present p ap er deals with 97 wild species, belonging to 75 genera and 49 fam i-
L lies, which provide edible fruits, seeds, grains, tubers and root-stocks, tender
stem and leaves etc. The fam ilies are arranged according to Bentham and H ook­
e r’s system o f classification and species alphabetically. Local nam es, period o f
availability of wild food in the field, h ab it and h ab itat o f the plants have been
universally m entioned. A ttem pts have also been m ade to cite the m ain chem ical
contents o f edible p a rts based on available literature. A bout 14 species have
been recom mended fo r cultivation.

IN T R O D U C TIO N and Bansal, 1979 etc.). A perusal of literature

revealed that Aravalli range and the eastern
The wild plants have provided an im po­ part of R ajasthan, which m aintain luxuriant
rtant source o f food since time immemorial. vegetation from economic point o f view,
Our ancestors collected wild grains, vegetables, have not received due consideration. H o w e v e r,
fruits, tubers etc. for food and learned to elim­ the tribal people living in the villages, partic­
inate toxic substances from them, if any, by ularly in forest areas, depend considerably on
various means to make them palatable and then the edible products o f forests and they have
settled such plants on their farms. Vast liter­ accrued considerable knowledge in this field o f
ature exists on the uses of plants as food (Roxb­ potential interest.
urgh, 1832; W att, 1889-96; Gam m ie, 1902; Bal, A scientific study of wild food plants
1939; Wealth o f India, 1948-76; Medsager, 1975; is im portant for pin pointing the potential
Fernold and Kinsey, 1958; D astur 1964; Jain, sources which could be utilized at the time o f
1964; Deb and K ar, 1967; Sangal, 1971; Deb. scarcity or during norm al days or cultivated as
1975; Tanaka, 1976; Pal and Banerjee, 1977; a source o f food m aterial for ever increasing
Singh and A rora, 1978 etc ). In R ajasthan, the population. W ith this end in view, the present
desertic zone has attracted the attention o f b o ta ­ study is made. The information furnished here
nists tow ards such studies, since it is frequently is purely based on authors personal obser­
subjected to famine (King, 1869, 1870; G upta vations made during last twelve years o f their
and K anodia, 1968; K anodia and G upta, 1968; studies on the vegetation of eastern Rajasthan
Bhandari, 1974; Singh and Shetty, 1977; Sen and Aravalli range.

197
V. Singh and P. Singh

Botanical name Local name Period o f Habit, habitat and other rem ark^
availability
1 2 3 4

FRU ITS EDIBLE :

annonaceae
Annona squamosa L. Sitaplml, Sliarifa Sept.-Dec. Shrub or tree; in forests; sold in
market; rich in glucose, proteins
and vitamin C.
CAPPARACEAE
C apparis decidua Taint, Kair Feb.-July Shrub or tree; in wastelands; also
(Forsk.) Edgew. pickled and sold in m arket.
C. sepiaria L. Jal, Chhail Dec.-June Shrub; in scrub forests and waste­
lands.
FLA C O U R T IA C E A E
Flacourtia indica Kankar, Khatai Feb.-M ay Shrub or tree; in forests; also
(Burm. f.) Merr. preserved; contains carbohydrates,
sucrose, Ca and P.
STERCU LIA CEA E
Guazuma ulmifolia Lamk. Radraksha Oct.-Feb. Tree; rare, at the foot o f the hills;
rich in mucilage.
T ILIA C EA E
Grewia subinaequalis DC. Phalsa May-Aug. Tree; rare, in forests in K ota and
Jhalaw ar dist.; sold in m arket; con­
tains citric acid, sugar and vitamins.
G. tenax (Forsk.) Fiori Gagrain, Kakoon, Sept.-Jan. Shrub; in scrub forests.
Khus
G. tiliaefolia Vahl Jhujhana, Dhamni Oct -Dec. Shrub; in forests on hills.
R U TACEAE
Aegle marmelos (L.) Corr. Belpatri, Bila April-Sept. Tree; in forests; sold in m arket;
rich in sugar.
Feronia limonia (L.) Sw. Kaitha Sept.-Oct. Tree; in wastelands; sold in m arket;
contains protein, carbohydrates,
Ca, P, iron and vitamin C.
M ELIACEAE
Azadirachta indica A. Juss. Neem June-Aug. Tree; in wastelands; sold in m arket.
R H A M N A CEA E
Ziziphus m auritiana Lamk. Bor Nov.-Feb. Tree; in wastelands; sold in m arket.

198
 V. Singh and P. Singh

1 2 3 4

I. nummularia (Burm. f.) Bor Feb.-June Shrub; in wastelands; sold in

W t. & Am . market.
VITACEAE
Ampelocissus latifolia (Vahl) Bechhuti Aug.-Nov. Woody climber; in forests.
Planch.
LEEACEAE
Leea edgeworthii Sant. — Sept.-Nov. Shrub; in forests in southern parts
of the State.
CAESALPINIACEAE
Tamarindus indica L. Emli, Katara Nov.-Dee. Tree; in wastelands, along the
roads; sold in m arket; contains
protein, carbohydrates, Ca, P, Fe,
vitamin C and tartaric acid.
M IM OSACEAE
Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Jangal-Jalebi, Dec.-Aug. Tree;in wastelands, along the roads;
Benth. Kikar contains protein, carbohydrates, Ca,
P, and fat.
M Y RTA CEA E
Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels Jamun May-Aug. Tree; in wastelands, along the
roads; sold in m arket; rich in
carbohydrates, C a, Mg, P and
vitamins A and C.
S. jambos (L.) Als. Jangli-Jamun May-June Tree; occasional, in forests.
C U CURBITACEAE
Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Tarbuj April-June Creeper; near habitations; sold
M ats, et N akai in m arket; rich in carbohydrates,
minerals like Ca, P, and Fe.
Cucumis melo L. var. momordica Kachri Aug.-Oct. Creeper; near habitations; also
D uthie & Fuller cooked as vegetable.
A L A N G I\C E A E
Alangium salvifolia (L.f.) Wang. A kol April-June Tree; in wastelands and on hill-
slopes.
RUBIACEAE
Xeromphis spinosa (Thunb.) Keay — Sept.-Jan. Shrub; at the foot o f hills; taste is
like alm ond; rich in catbohydrates.
SAPOTACEAE
M adhuca indica Gmel. Malnia M arch-June Tree; in forests and wastelands.
C orolla is rich in sugar, vitamins

• 199
V. Singh and P. Singh

and Calcium and much liked by

villagers.
Mimusops hexandra (Roxb.) D ub Khirni Oct.-April Tree; road-sides and wastlands;
sold in market.
EBENACEAE
Diospyros mclanoxylon Roxb. Tendu June-Aug. Tree; abundant in forests; sold in
m arket; rich in album inous and
organic m atter.
SALVADORACEAE
Salvadora oleoides Decne. Pilu Nov.-April Tree; in wastelands.
S. persica L. Pilu, Jal Nov -A pril Tree; in wastelands.
EHRETIACEAE
Cordia gharaf (Forsk.) Gundi Aug.-Feb. Tree; in w astelands; sold in market.
Ehrenb. & Asch.
CONVOLVULACEAE
Rivea hypocrateriformis Choisy Guwal-Kakri Aug.-Nov. Climber; along the boundaries of
fields, gardens and roadsides.
SOLANACEAE
Physalis minima L. Papotan Aug.-Jan. H erb; in shady localities.
P. peruviana L. Bari-Papaton Aug.-Jan. H erb; in and around gardens; sold
in the m arket; contains protein,
fat, carbohydrates, Ca, Mg, P and
vitam in A.
Solanum nigrum L. M akoi M ost part H erb; in shady and w et localities;
o f year contains glucose, fructose and
vitamin C.
VERBENACEAE
Gmelina arborea Roxb. Gambari April-June Tree; rare, in forests; commonly
planted in gardens and parks;
contains butyric acid, tartaric acid
and saccharine matter.
Lantana cam ara L. Galphusia, Latina M ost part Shrub; in wastelands and scrub
of year forests.
L. indica Roxb. Kharenti Nov.-Jan. U ndershrub; in the forests.
EUPHORBIACEAE
Pbyllanthus emblica L. Amla Oct.-Dec. Tree; in forests;sold in m arket;
also preserved; contains protein,
fat, carbohydrates, P, Fe and
vitam in C.

200
 V. Singh and P Singli

U LM A C EA E
Holoptelea integrifolia (R oxb.) Churil Feb.-M ay Tree; in wastelands; much liked
Planch. by monkeys.
M ORACEAE
Ficus bcnghalensis L. Bar, Bargad June-Sept. Tree; in wastelands near habi­
tations; contains albuminoides, fat,
carbohydrates, silica and phos­
phorus.
F. palniata Forsk. Anjiri Feb.-July Tree or shrub; in wastlands and
open forests.
F. racemosa L. Gular M arch-August Tree; in wastelands and forests;
often sold in market. Chemical
contents o f fruits as in F. bengha-
lensis L.
PALM AE
Phoenix sylvestris (L.) Roxb. Khajur M arch-July Tree; in lowlands; sold in m arket;
rich in carbohydrates and protein.
pandanaceae
Paudanus odoratissimus L.f. Kewra May-July Tree or shrub; in marshy places.
The fruits cause irritation in m outh
when eaten.
SEED S EDIBLE :
STERCULIACEAE
Sterculia urens Roxb. Karangli, Kharu Dec.-May Tree; in forests; taste like M asoor
pulse; contains carbohydrates,pro­
teins and fatty oils.
SAPINDACEAE
Schleichera oleosa (Lour.) Kusum May-July Tree; in evergreen forests at Sita-
Oken. bari (K ota); rich in fatty oils.
A NA CA RD IACEAE
Buchanania lanzen Spreng. Achar, Chironji M arch-June Tree; in forests; sold in m arket; rich
in oil, starch, protein and sugars.
GRAINS EATEN AS F O O D :
G RA M IN EA E
Coix lacryma- jobi L . Jargadi Sept.-Dee. G rass; in marshy habitats; contains
protein,carbohydrates and minerals.
Echinochloa colonum (L.) Hama, Sama Sept.-Nov. G rass; in marshy and aquatic
Link habitats.

201
V. Singh and P. Singh

1 2 3 4

E. crusgalli (L.) Beauv. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid

Oryza rufipogon Griff. Jangli-Dhan Sept.-Nov. G rass; in aquatic habitats in ponds
and tanks.
Panicum miliare Lamk. Kungu Aug -Nov. Grass; in fields, gardens and forests.
S etaria glauca (L.) Beauv. — Aug.-Nov. Grass; everywhere; rich in starch.
S. tomentosa (Roxb.) K unth — Aug -Nov. Grass; in hedges and forests.
FRU ITS COOKED AS VEGETABLE :
M O R IN G A C EA E
Moringa oleifera Lamk. Saijana M ost part o f Tree; near habitations; flowers are
the year also cooked; sold in market. Pods
cantain protein, fat, carbohydrates,
Ca, P and vitamin A.
PA PILIO N A C EA E
Canavalia gladiata (Jacq.) DC. Jangli Sem Sept.-Dec. Climbing herb; on the edges of
fields and gardens; contains protein,
fat, carbohydrates, minerals and
vitamin A.
Lathyrus sativus L. Chapta-Mattar Feb.-M arch Climbing herb; weed in fields. Seeds
contain protein, fat and carbohy­
drates.
Phaseolus trilobus Ait. Mungi Sept.-Nov. H erb; in grasslands.
C AESALPINIACEAE
Bauhinia racemosa Lamk. Jhiza, Seta M ay-July Tree; in forests; flower-buds also
cooked and sold in market.
Cassia obtusifolia L. Pumaria Aug.-Nov. Herb; everywhere.
C. tora L. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid.
M IM OSACEAE
Acacia leucophloea (Roxb.) Ronj, Jhira Sept.-Feb. Tree;in wastelands and open forests.
Willd.
A. nilotica (L.) Del. Babool Nov.-Feb. Ibid.
Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce Khanjra Feb.-June Tree; in wastelands and open
forests: sold in market.
C U C U R BIT ACEAE
Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt Tinduri, M ost part Herbaceous climber; on the edges
Tilkakri o f year o f fields and gardens.
M omordica belsamioa L. Kakora Aug.-Oct, Herbaceous climber; on the edges

202
 V Singh and P. Singh

1 2 3 4

of fields, gardens and open forests;

sold in market.
M . dioica Roxb. ex Willd. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid.
APOCYNACEAE
C arissa congest a Wt. Karaunda May-Sept. S hrub; in forests; also cultivated;
sold in m arket; also preserved;
rich in protein, fat, carbohydrates
and minerals.
C. spinarum L. Jangli Karaunda May-Sept. Shrub; in forests and wastelands;
also preserved.
EH RETIA CEA E
Cordia dichotoma Forst. f. Lisora, Gunda, May-July Tree; in wastelands and forests;
Lesua sold in m arket; also preserved.
TUBERS AND R O O T-STO C K S COOKED AS VEGETABLE:
N YM PHAEACEAE
Nymphaea nouchali Burm. f. Kamal Throughout Aquatic herb; in ponds and tanks.
year Tubers (rhizomes) contain starch
and protein.
N ELU M BON ACEAE
Nelumbo nucifera G aertn. Kamal, Kamal- Throughout A quatic herb; in ponds and tanks;
K akri year rhizomes sold in the m arket and
contain protein, sucrose and starch.
PAPILION ACEAE
Pueraria tuberosa Roxb. ex Ghora-bel Ibid. Woody twiner; on the edges o f
Willd. fields and in wastelands; rich in
starch and proteins.
ASCLEPIADACEAE
Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. Kendua Ibid. W oody twiner; on the edges o f
fields and in wastelands; contains
fat, sugar and starch.
DIOSCOREACEAE
Dioscorea bulbifera L. Gainthi Ibid. Herbaceous twiner; on the edges o f
the fields. The tubers are rich in
album inoides, fat and carbohy­
drates.

203
V. Singli and P. Singh

D. pcntaphylla L. — Throughout year Heibaceous twiner; in the forests;

rich in albuminoides, fat and
carbohydrates.
CY PERA CEA E
Cyperus esculentus L. Chiclioda, Ibid. Aquatic and marshy herb; in tanks
Keseru and ponds; rich in oil,carbohydrates,
starch and minerals.
TENDER STEM AND LEAVES COOKED AS VEGETABLE:
FU M A R IA C EA E
Fumaria indica (Haussk.) Gajra, Winter Herb; weed in fields.
Pugsley Pitpapra season
PO RTU LA CA CEA E
P ortulaca oleracea L. Nunkha Rain and H erb; everywhere; sold in market.
winter Plant contains protein, carbohy­
drates, Ca, Mg, P, Fe, oxalic acid
and vitam in C.
ZY GO PH Y LLA CEA E
Tribulus terrestris L. Bhaukeri, Throughout Herb; everywhere; rich in protein,
Gokhru year Ca, P and vitam in C.
PAPILIO N A CEA E
Medicago polymorpha L. Churgali W inter season Herb; weed in fields.
AIZOACEAE
Trianthema portulacastrum Barn a, Pathor- Throughout H e rb ; in hum us rich soils in waste-
L. chatta year lan
drates and ascorbic acid.
U M B ELLIFER A E
Anethum graveolens L. Soya W inter season H erb; weed in fields; sold in
m arket.
CONVO LVULACEAE
Ipomoea aquatica Forsk. Nali-ka-Sag Throughout A quatic herb; in ponds, tanks and
year low lands; sold in market.
A M A R A N TH A C EA E
Amaranthus caudatus L., Chaulai, Rajgara M ost part H erbs; in w astelands; sold in
A. viridis L., of year m arket. Seeds are rich in protein
A. spinosus L. and and tast ing much like true cereals.
A. tenuifolius Willd.

204
(
 V. Singh and P. Singh

1 2 3 4

Celosia argentea L. Surli Rainy season Herb; weed in fields.

Digera muricata (L.) Mart. Lehsua, Rain and H erb; weed in fields and waste­
Khanjru W inter lands.
C H EN O PO D IA C EA E
Chenopodium album L. Baikal, Bathua Winter season H erb; weed in the fields and waste­
lands; sold in market. Plant is rich
in vitamin C.
C. muralc L. Khad-bathal Rain and H erb; in hum us rich soils; sold in
W inter market.
BASELLACEAE -

Basella alba L. Poi July-Jan. Herbaceous twiner; on the edges of

fields and gardens.
COM M ELINA CEA E
Commelina benghalensis L. Buchna R ain and H erb; everywhere in wet habitats.
W inter
LILIACEAE
Urginea indica (R oxb.) K unth Koli-Kanda Rainy H erb; in wastelands.
season
G R A M IN EA E
Bambusa arundinacea (Retz.) Bans Throughout Bamboo; in forests; oniy young
W illd. year sprouts cooked as vegetable or
boiled and eaten.
Dandrocalamus slrictus Nees Bans Ibid. Ibid
A GA RICA CEA E
Agaricus sp. Kumbi Rainy Herb; in hum us rich soils, decaying
season wood etc.; whole plant is eaten
boiled or as vegetable; sold in
market.
 V. Singh and P. Singh

SUM M ARY the people, particularly villagers. Agaricus Linn,

is the only cryptogamic genus, the non-poison-
The table revealed that the forests of ous species o f which are edible. Otherwise,
eastern R ajasthan m aintain a large num ber of phanerogams, particularly the angiosperms, are
food plants. A bout 97 species, belonging to the main sources of wild food. The detailed
75 genera and 49 families, provide wild food to analysis is as under :

Family Genera Species

M onocot D icot M onocot Dicot M onocot Dicot
Fruits edible 2 26 2 31 2 41
Seeds edible - 3 — 3 ____ 3
G rains eaten as food 1 - 5 — 7 _ _

Fruits as vegetables - 7 — 12 — 16
Tubers and root-stocks as
vegetable 2 4 2 4 3 4
Tender stem and leaves as
vegetable 3 10 4 12 4 16
Total 8 50 13 62 16 80
(Ten families are common)
The study revealed th at the dicotyled­ species provide edible fruits or seeds, while
onous plants are more commonly used as food herbaceous ones are the source o f vegetables.
in com parison to monocots. It is interesting
The following taxa which grow wild in
to note th at m ost o f the wild food is available
R ajasthan are under cultivation in eastern and
during the post m onsoon and winter season.
other parts o f India (Deb, 1975). Their growth
O f the 43 species, 9 are strictly of winter sea­
in wild state and soil and climate o f the area
son and 30 become available in post monsoon
period and continue upto the end o f winter indicate the possibility o f their cultivation in
season. A bout 19 species provide food almost R ajasthan. These species are Agaricus sp.
throughout the year. A bout 4 species are Alangium salvifolia (L. f.) Wang., Anethum gra-
veolens L.. Ba sella alba L.. Buchanania lanzen
strictly of rainy season. A bout 31 species
Spreng., Canavalia ghuliata (Jacq.) DC., Coix
provide food during sum m ers; o f which 10 get
lacryma-jobi L., Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb.,
available in late winters, 12 extend from sum ­
Ficus racemnsa L., Lathyrus sativa L „ Momor-
mers to rainy season and 9 are strictly of
dica dioica Roxb. ex Willd., Phoenix sylvestris
summer season.
(L.) Roxb., Portulaca oleracea L. and Setaria
The habit analysis revealed that about tomenlosa (Roxb.) K unth. The species of
41 species are trees, 10 shrubs, 12 woody or Amaranthus L. have extremely high levels of
herbaceous climbers and 34 herbs. Again, it protein and nutritionally essential amino acid,
is interesting to note that most o f the woody lysine which is usually deficient in plant protein.

206
 V. Singh and P. Singh

'hey may also be recommended for cultivation. jain , s.K. 1964. Wild plant foods o f the tribals
o f Bastar (M .P). Proc. nat. Inst. Sci. India
A CK N O W LED G EM EN TS 30 B: 56-80.
The authors are thankful to the Director, k a n o d ia , k . c . and r . k . g u p t a 1961. Some
lotanical Survey o f India, Howrah; Deputy unusual and supplementary food plants for
the desert regions. J. Agri. Trop. Bot.
director, Arid Zone Circle, Botanical Survey Appliq. 15: 71-74.
»f India, Jodhpur for the facilities provided,
1869. Fam ine foods o f M arwar. Proc.
k in g , g .
ienior author is also thankful to the Director, As. Soc. Bengal 38: 116-122.
National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow
--------- 1970. Notes on vegetable products used
ind C .S.I.R ., New Delhi for necessary facilities as food during late famine in R ajasthan.
wovided during the course o f present study. Trans, bot. Soc. Edinb. 10: 198.
1957. Edible wild plants. M acmi­
m e d sa g b r, o. p.
R EFEREN CES llan Co., New York.
1939. Catalogue o f fo o d spice and
i a l , s .N . p a l , d . c . and d k Banerjee 1971. Some less
fodder plant exhibits in the Industrial Section known plant food among the tribals of
o f the Indian Museum. Govt, o f India A ndhra Pradesh and Orissa State. Bull. bot.
Publication, New Delhi. Surv. India 13: 221-233.
1974. Famine f o o d s in Rajas­
u h a n d a r i , m .m . ROXBURGH, w. 1832. Flora Indica. Vols. 1-3,
than desert. Eco. Bot. 29 (1): 73-81. Serampore.
DASTUR, J F. 1951. Useful plants o f India and s a n g a l p .m . 1971. Food Plants o f the tribal
Pakistan. D. B. Taraporevalla Sons & Co. population o f Andam an and Nicobar Is­
Ltd., Bombay. lands. Indian For. 97 (7): 648-650.
1975. Economic plants o f Tripura
d eb , d .b . and r . p . b a n s a l 1979. Food plant
se n , d .n .
State - Edible plants, food-grains, vegetables resources o f the Indian desert. Proc. Int.
and fruits. Indian For. 101: 399-406. Arid Land C onf Plant Resources, Texas
Tech. Univ. 357-370.
-------- & s.K. k a r 1967. Edible wild plants of
SINGH, H B and R .K . ARORA 1978. Wild edible
N EFA . MSS. plants o f India. New Delhi, I.C.A.R. 1-89.
FER N O LD M L . & A C . KINSEY 1958. Edible wild
s in g h , v. and b v . s h e t t y 1979. A survey of
plants o f Eastern North America, (rev. R.C.
natural plant resources o f R ajasthan desert.
Rallians) H arpar & Brothers, New York.
Trans. Indian Soc. Desert Tech. & Univ.
g a m m ie , g . a . 1902. A note on plants used Centre Desert Stud. 2(2): 296-305.
during famine and seasons o f scarcity in t a n a k a , K. 1976. Cyclopedia o f edible plants
Bombay Presidency. Rec. bot. Surv. India o f the world. Keigaku Publishing Co.,
2 (2): 171- 196. Tokvo, Japan.
GUPTA, R K. and K.C. KANODIA 1961. Plants w a t t , g . 1889-1896. Dictionary o f the economic
used during scarcity and famine periods in products o f India.
dry regions of India J. Agri Trop. Bot. W ealth o f India. 1948-76. Wealth o f India Vols.
Appliq. 15: 247-288. 1-11, C .S.I.R . New Delhi.

207