Ancient

methods of
plant
nomenclature
w.s.r to
Basonyms and
Synonyms
Dr.Reju krishnan
 Contents
• Introduction
• Namarupa Vijnanam
• Paryaya
• Concept of basonym ans synonym
• Dravya namakarana from vedic period to
contemporary period
• Advantages and disadvantages of synonyms
• Binomial nomenclature
• ICBN
• Conclusion

2
 Introduction
• In ancient and medieval times, there
was no system of morphological
description of plants as done now
days
• Which was overcome by coining
names and synonyms which indicate
the salient features of plants
• Naming a plant was necessary for
identifying, differentiating the useful
ones from other species which are
3
 Nama rupa vijnana:

Nama – name of a plant ( mukhya

nama)

Rupa – meant to describe its features

including aakriti, guna, karma and

indications
4
The word Namarupavigyana may be
interpreted in three ways:
1. That by which names and forms of substances
(Dravya)are known
2. That which imparts knowledge of the forms of
substances on the basis of names
3. That which deals with proper correlation of
names and forms so that the entity can be
identified correctly
5
 नाम / निरुक्त: १. सत्त्वप्रधानानि नामानि

२. “शब्देनोच्चरितेन येन
द्रव्यं प्रतीयते ।”

That which predominates in sattva and a

word which is being pronounced suggests
some entity or identity
Eg: कं जलं रन्जयति..

पर्याय : परि + गतौ – परावनुपात्यय इन : । ( श क द्रु)

To approach from or to come nearer

Eg: उदकीर्य , नक्तमाल
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Basonym is basic name/ original name
Defn : The earliest validly published name of a
taxon

Synonym is a word that has same or very

similar / equivalent / analogous meaning
Defn : A word or phrase that means exactly
or nearly the same as another word or
phrase in the same language

7
Evolution of Dravya namakarana

• Ancient period ( 4000BC to 7

AD )

• Medieval period (8- 15 AD)

• Modern period 16 AD onwards

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 Ancient period
• 4000 BC to 7 AD
• Can be divided into – 1.Pre-vedic period
2.Vedic period
3.Post vedic or samhita
period

• Vedic period includes vedas, upanishads .

Puranas and kalpasutras
• Post vedic period includes brihatrayee

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 Basis of plant nomenclature in
vedic period
• Several plants were named mainly
based on mythological background
Eg: Mahabala and muchakunda
(names of Gods)
• Names of various plants were
replaced by new names
Eg: Atasa (Atasi), Gulugulu (Guggulu)
Arani (Agnimantha)

10
 Synonyms during vedic period
• Vedic nighantu reveals the usage of synonyms

• 2 kinds of synonyms .. Naighantuka and ekapadika

१. नैघण्टुक is a single plant with many synonyms

Eg: Ikshu: Gudadaaru, madhuratrna, asipatra, rasaala etc

२. एकपादिक : a single synonym applied to many plants

Eg: Triparni : Bilva, varuna, Paribhadra and Palasha

Sadaphala : Narikela, Bilva

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 Post- vedic or Samhita
period
• This period marked the highest
development in the field of ayurveda

• 3 important treatises belong to this

period

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• Charakacharya explains the
importance of namarupa..
“औषधं ह्यनभिज्नातम् नामरूप
गुणैस्त्रिभि : ।” ( Cha Su 1/20)
• Susrutacharya and Vagbhatacharya
coined newer synonyms whereas
Charakacharya used the same
synonyms as earlier
• Charakacharya used one synonym
strictly for a single drug Eg:Samanga
& Manjishta 13
 Nighantu period:

• 8th century to 16th century

• Nighantukaaras play important role
in contributing synonyms
• Synonyms were the only tools to
describe morphology and actions of
herbs

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Saushrutha nighantu 5th cent AD
Only synonyms are told
1. Dravya swarupa

Eg: Sukshma patra (Shatavari), Shamipatra (lajjalu),

Bala patra (khadira) and Chala patra (Ashwattha)
2. Pushpa swarupa
Eg: Raktapushpa (Palasha), deerghapushpa (Arka),
gucchapushpa (Saptaparna)
3. Rasa sambhandha paryaya
Eg: Alavana (Jyotishmati), madhu rasa (kokilaksha)

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 Ashtanga nighantu 8th
cent AD
• Deals with only synonyms

• Added few more new synonyms

Eg:

Phanijihwaparni ( Shatavari)

Vindhyaajata ( Vibheetaki)

Mandala patraka (Shinshipa)

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 Dhanvantari nighantu( 11th
cent AD)

• Author: Mahendra bhogik

• Has got 2 parts – Gana dravyavali
and nighantu
• Gana dravyavali deals only with
names and synonyms of dravyas

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• “ निघन्टुना बिना वैद्यो विद्वान्
व्यकरणं बिना ।
अनभ्यासेन च धनुष्कस्त्रयो
हास्यस्य भाजनं ।।

• “द्रव्यावलि विना वैद्यस्ते वैद्या

हास्यभजनं ।
द्रव्यावलि अभिधाननि त्रितीयमपि
लोचनं ।”
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Synonyms were coined based on
1. Jaati( Habitat) – Vindhyaja , malayaja ,
Dravidi
2. Aakriti ( Morphology)

3. Varna ( Color) – Peetapushpi, Peetasara

4. Veerya ( qualities)- Analanama

5. Rasa (Taste) – Pancharasa

6. Prabhava ( Effect )
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 Raja nighantu(14th cent
AD)
• Author: Raja Narahari Panditha

• He placed dravyaguna vijanana under astangas of ayurveda

• He says.. plant identification and knowledge of plants should be

known by the people residing in forests, gopalakas (Cowherds

and shepherds)

• Gives highest possible number of synonyms than any other

author to drugs

• He gave synonyms not only to dravyas but also to

different parts of plants, bhumi and other

environmental factors 20
 7 factors:

“ नामनि क्वचित् इह रूढित्: स्वभावत:

देशोक्त क्वचित् लांछनोपमाभ्याम् ।

वीर्येण क्वचित् इतराह्वातिदेशात्

द्रव्याणां । 21
 १.रूढि

• पचम् पचा – Daruharidra

• आठरुषक- Vasa
• गुडूचि
• किणिहि – Apamarga
• न्रुपध्रुम – Aragwadha

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 2.स्वभाव/ प्रभाव

• Kushtaghni- khadira
• Shwitraghni – bakuchi
• Dadrughni – chakramarda
• Pleehaghni – Rohitaka
• Nidrari – Kiratatikta

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 3.Deshokta
• Vaidehi – Pippali

• Magadhi- Maricha

• Ramatha – Hingu

• Malayaja – Chandana

• Chinaka – Karpura

• Kampillya – Kampillaka

• Dravidi -- Ela
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 4.Lanchana

• Deerghaphala – Aragwadha

• Vakrapushpa – Agastya

• Chitratandula – vidanga

• Dhavala – Arjuna

• Vaji danta – Vasa

• Simhaasya– vasa
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 5.Upama

• Shrungi – tubers are horn shaped

• Ajamoda – fruits smells like aja
• Kritamala – aragwadha
• Kimshuka – Palasha

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 6. Veerya

• Ushna – Maricha

• Sheeta ( Bala)

• Ushana ( Shunti)

• Sheetavalkala ( Udumbara)

• Bahuveerya ( Shalmalee)

• Teekshna tandula ( Pippali)

27
 7. Itarahvaya

• Analanama- chitraka
• Veera – Maricha
• Vari – Shatavari

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 Priyavat Sharma & Vaidya VM
Gogte (19th cent AD)
1. Utpatti mula
2. Utpatti sthana
3. Ruchi
4. Gandha
5. Swarupa
6. Saprsha
7. Shabda
8. Patra
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9. Phala
10. Itihasa Prasiddha
11. Karma
12. Hetu
13. Swastha urjaskara
14. Avayava
15. Prani sadrusha

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 Shape/
Swarupa
• Chakralakshana
• Kana
• Dronapushpi
• Sharapunkha
• Triputa
• Trikantaka

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 Habitat / Utpatti sthana
• Vaidehi and magadhi (Pippali)
• Bahlika
• Saurashtri
• Parasika yavani
• Nepali
• Kashmari
• Upakulya

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 Taste / Rasa
• Amlika
• Amlavetas
• Patramla
• Swaduphala
• Tiktashaka
• Kiratatikta
• madhuyashti

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 Smell / Gandha
• Ashwagandha
• Vidarigandha
• Ughragandha
• Gandhaadya
• Padmagandhi
• Puti karanja
• Aja gandha

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 Color
• Peetamula • Swarnapatree
• Krishna • Swarnaksheeri
• Peetadaru • Kalabola
• Peetapushpa • Krishnaguru
• Krishna • Krishnabeeja
• Raktaniryasa • Sweta mushali
• Haridra • Dhavala
• Raktachandana • Tamrapallava
• Neelini • Raktapushpa
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 Touch
• Dushparsha
• Namaskaari
• Himahva
• Ushna
• Kharapatra
• Snigdha patra

36
 Leaf
• Triparna • Hrit patra
• Saptaparna • Yugma patra
• Asipatra • Tamra pallava
• Darvi patra
• Snigdha patra
• Hasthi parna
• Sukshma patra
• Bala patra
• Bahupatra

37
 Flower
• Kritamala • Raktapushpa
• Naktamala • Peetapushpa
• Tilapushpa • Vakrapushpa
• Dronapushpa • Kharamanjari
• Shankapushpi • Neelapushpi
• Gucchapushpa • Pindapushi
• Pratyakpushpa
• Hareetamanjari
• Adhapushpa
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 Fruits
• Kantakiphala • Atmaguptha
• Granthila phala • Jantuphala
• Shreephala
• Bhrhat phala
• Mahaphala
• Sthira phala
• Pindaphala

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 Historical names/ Itihasa
Prasiddha
• Bodhi dhruma • Gopi
• Arjuna • Gopika
• Indravaruni • Gopavalli
• Indrayava • Gopakanya
• Ishwari • Chandrashura
• Aindree • Devadundhubhi
• Kuberakshi • Devadhupa
• Gandharvahastha • Ramaphala
• Somaraaji • Seethaphala
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 Resembling body parts/
Avayava sadruhsa
• Asthishrunkhala
• Amashayaphala
• Keshara
• Hritpatree
• Chathurangula

41
 Resembling animals/Prani sadrusha

• Mayurashika • Simhasya
• Gojihva • Simhamuhkee
• Gosthanee • Kakanasa
• Gavakshi • Nakuli
• Godanti • Ashwakarna
• Vyaghrapuccha • Gajapippali
• Nagakeshar
• Vajidanta
• Alarka
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 Therapeutic description/
Karma
• Kushtaghni • Vyadhighat
• kushtavairi • Aragwadha
• Putrada • Vishwabheshaja
• Ashamghna
• Dadrughna
• Kasamarda
• Kasari
• Kasaghnee
• Raktapittahara
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 Health promoting/Swastha
urjaskara
• Abhaya
• Arogyashimbhi
• Avyatha
• Pranada
• Vyadhighata
• Shishubheshaja
• Bhishak matha
• Amrtutha
44
 Disease causing / Hetu
• Arushkara
• Rechanee
• Kalidruma
• Keshahantree

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 Based on Availability

1. Bahvi - abundantly available

2. Viswah - available all over the world
3. Sahasranamni - with several names
in different places

46
 Dr K Nishteshwar
• Based on weight: Akshaphala ( Vibheetaki)

• Nodes : Shadgranthi ( Vacha), Shatagranthi

( Durva)
• Historical importance:

Kuashika (Guggulu), Vinheeshana (Nala)

• Latex: Peetadugda (swarnaksheeri), Payasya
(ksheera kakoli)
• Spines: deergha kantaka ( Babbula), Teekshna
kantaka ( IIngudi)
47
• Fruits: Kantakaphala (Jeemutaka),
Snehaphala ( kantakari)
• Flowers : vakrapushpa (agastya),
vishapushpa ( madana)
• Leaves : Tamra pallava (asoka)
• Action on animals: Hayamara
(karaveera) and kakaghna ( karanja
bheda)
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Advantages of synonyms
• Synonyms explain the morphology,
habitat, place of origin and other
important details of plants
• Sometimes synonyms are the only
to identify a plant which is in use
since ancient days
• To understand proper identity of a
drug mentioned in a formulation

49
 Disadvantages of
synonyms
• Many synonyms used for a single
dravya creates confusion regarding
the original identity of the drug
• New synonyms coined during
nighantu period resulted in a group
of controversial drugs
• In modern era, synonyms alone are
not of much reliable for identification
of a taxon
50
• In the medieval period, a large number of
synonyms accumulated which denoted more
than one plant and thus lost accuracy.
• Amrita which originally denoted guduchi but
gradually was extended to Haritaki and
Amalki by Dhanwantarinighantu and Raj
nighantu respectively
• Vijaya which initially meant Haritaki but later
on Bhanga and many other plants
51
 Plant nomenclature in
modern era
• System of naming plants plays an important role in
taxonomy
• Main aim of plant nomenclature is to provide a particular
name to a plant species which may be used all over the
world
• Before 18th century , names were polynomials, later on
this system was replaced by binomial nomenclature
• In botanical nomenclature, the names given to the plants
are either Latin names or the names taken from some
other languages and Latinized.
52
 Binomial system of
nomenclature
Established by Carl Linnaeus, author of
“species plantarum ”

In Binomial nomenclature, name of a

plant has 2 parts
• Generic name/ genus name

• Specific name/ species name

53
 Advantages of binomial
nomenclature

• Names are more precise and definite

than ordinary names
• Being Latin , have acceptance
worldwide
• Comprehensive and easy to study
• Descriptive
54
 Generic name

• Its forms the 1st part of binomial

name
• Always singular, nominative and a
noun
• Always written in capital letter
• Must be unique within the kingdom
55
1. Honor of a person:
Usually name of the taxonomist or a
botanist
• Diascorea- author of materia medica
• Bauhinia- 2 bauhin brothers
• Nicotiana- Jean Nicot who introduced
tobacco in Europe

56
2. Specific feature of a plant:
• Luecodendron- Silver tree
• Xanthoxylum- yellow wood

3. Land of its diversity/ discovery:

• Nelumbo – ceylonese

4. Fancy/ Mythology:
• Nymphea – beautiful water nymphs
• Theobroma –god’s food
57
The specific epithet/
species name:
• Indicate the kind of the plant or
distinguishing characters of species
• It may be derived from
1. Descriptive adjective: indicating
• Color: rubra( red), alba( white),
nigra ( black)
• Size/ shape/ habit of the plant:
alta( tall), gigantea (gaint), crassa
( thick) 58
• Plant’s abundance: vulgaris( common),
rara( rare)
• Plant’s habitat: aquatica( in water) ,
sylvatica ( woods)
• Plant Uses: sativa ( sown for crops),
esculenta ( edible)
• Region where the plant was found:
indica( India),chinesis( China),
canadensis( Canada)
• Other characters: foetida (ill scented),
spinosa ( spiny), religiosa (has religious
importance)
59
2. Distinctive features:
latifolia( broad leaved), aungustifolia(
narrow leaved), grandliflora (large
flowered), cardifolia ( heart sahped
leaved)
3. Noun itself is an old latin or
greek word:
prunus( roman word for cherry), 60
International Code of Botanical
Nomenclature (ICBN) rules:

• All the plants which belong to one genus

be designed by the same generic name
• The one who establishes a new genus
should name the genus
• Generic names which are difficult to
pronounce or unpleasant are to be avoided

61
 Conclusion
• Nomenclature of anything is most important
because it distinguish a particular thing from
others, helps to communicate to others to
identify a substance properly.
• Nomenclature of a dravya provides a means of
communication and a reference system about
the elements that constitute biodiversity

62
• It also helps to understand hidden
meaning which is present with the
name
• Apart from guidelines of earlier
scholars, modern system of
classification should also be
considered before finalizing identity or
assigning a Sanskrit name to a
particular plant
63
Thank you

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