Plant ID

 Neem is know for its medicinal values for centuries. Neem is a tree. It grows in tropical regions such as India and Myanmar. The bark, leaves, and seeds are used to make medicine. Less often, the root, flower, and fruit are also used. Neem is used for tooth plaque, gum disease (gingivitis), lice, to repel insects, and for other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.  How does it work? Neem contains chemicals that might help reduce blood sugar levels, heal ulcers in the digestive tract, prevent pregnancy, kill bacteria, and prevent plaque formation in the mouth. Azadirachta indica, commonly known as neem, nimtree or Indian lilac, is a tree in the mahogany family Meliaceae. It is one of two species in the genus Azadirachta, and is native to the Indian subcontinent. It is typically grown in tropical and semi-tropical regions.  Scientific name :  Azadirachta indica Higher classification :  Azadirachta Order :  Sapin...

   Malabar spinach is a perennial vine that grows well in Summer.  Basella alba is an edible perennial vine in the family Basellaceae. It is found in tropical Asia and Africa where it is widely used as a leaf vegetable. It is native to the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and New Guinea. Scientific name :  Basella alba Higher classification :  Basella   Nutritional Value    The serving size of 44 grams provides 10 calories. It provides 50 µg of Vitamin      B9, 0.65 mg of Iron, 55 mg of Calcium, 0.049 mg of Copper and 21 mg of Magnesium. Malabar spinach is rich in Vitamin B9 and other proteins as well as minerals. Health Benefits of Malabar spinach Malabar spinach is an excellent source of iron, calcium, Vitamin C and Vitamin A. It contains high protein and great source of phosphorus and potassium. It has great amount of antioxidants such as lutein and beta carotene.

I am proud to say that I was able to grow and harvest this most expensive spice in my garden!guess what? It is Saffron.  The picture below is from my garden. Saffron  is one of the most precious spices in the world. The threadlike red stigmas—and the yellow hue they impart—are quite literally the stuff of legend.  Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus, commonly known as the "saffron crocus". The vivid crimson stigma and styles, called threads, are collected and dried for use mainly as a seasoning and colouring agent in food. Saffron has long been the world's most costly spice by weight. Where does saffron come from?  It is believed that saffron originated and was first cultivated in Greece, but today the spice is primarily grown in Iran, Greece, Morocco, and India.  Why is it so expensive? Each flower produces only three threads (stigmas) of saffron, and it blooms for only one week each year. The saffron must be harvested—by hand!—in the m...

  Aloe vera is a succulent plant species of the genus Aloe. An evergreen perennial, it originates from the Arabian Peninsula, but grows wild in tropical, semi-tropical, and arid climates around the world. It is cultivated for agricultural and medicinal uses.   Aloe vera is commonly grown as a houseplant and gained favor because the gel from its leaves makes a soothing skin salve. There are over 300 species of Aloe vera, but the one most commonly grown as a houseplant is  Aloe barbadensis .  Kingdom: Plantae Clade : Tracheophytes Clade : Angiosperms Clade : Monocots Order: Asparagales Family: Asphodelaceae Subfamily: Asphodeloideae Genus: Aloe Species: A. vera Aloe Vera Growing Tips: Growing Aloe Outdoors:  Although aloe can handle a brief frost, it can only be successfully grown outdoors in USDA Zones 9 and above. Here the difficulty is controlling water. Aloe can go for months without water, but too much rainfall will rot the roots. Propagating Aloe Vera: ...

  When I make tea this spice is used to make it extra special! I also use ginger in rasam and other asian dishes. Ginger is a flowering plant whose rhizome, ginger root or ginger, is widely used as a spice and a folk medicine. It is a herbaceous perennial which grows annual pseudostems about one meter tall bearing narrow leaf blades.  Scientific name :  Zingiber officinale Higher classification :  Ginger Rank :  Species 1. Contains gingerol, which has powerful medicinal properties 2. Can treat many forms of nausea, especially morning sickness 3. May help with weight loss 4. Can help with osteoarthritis 5. May drastically lower blood sugars and improve heart disease risk factors 6. Can help treat chronic indigestion 7. May significantly reduce menstrual pain 8. May help lower cholesterol levels 9. Contains a substance that may help prevent cancer 10. May improve brain function and protect against Alzheimer’s disease 11. Can help fight infections ginger grows as a...