Cultivation of Some Medicinal Plant Species and Requirement of Seeds

Abstract

Eighty-two species of medicinal plants have been described for their botanical and common names, plant families, medicinal uses and the most suitable and common cultivation methods. Thirty-nine species (Table 1) are categorized to be cultivated most economically and easily by seeds only whereas 22 species (Table 2) are categorized as cultivable equally well by seeds and other plant-parts, i.e. stem cuttings, root cuttings, slips, rooted stolons, bulbs, rhizomes, tubers, bulbs, corms, suckers, runners, tillers, cleft grafting, air layering, ground layering, gooti and live ends of the tops of previous year's plants etc. (Eclipta alba, Costus speciosus and Andrographis paniculata etc.). Twenty-one species (Table 3) are categorized as cultivable by any other means other than seeds (Gloriosa superba, Acorus calamus, and Tylophora asthamatica etc.). For 30 species, which are cultivable by seeds only, the amount of seeds required per hectare, has also been calculated and presented. Similarly, for certain species, amount of propagules (rhizomes, tubers and bulbs etc.) are also given. Such information will be extremely useful for all those persons who wish to cultivate various medicinal plant species at commercial level.