Aonla, Aonla Mewar Bawul, Bawul Marwar:
Here plants are used to distinguish Mewar from Marwar. English rendering would be Cassia auriculata Linn. Characterizes Mewar, whereas Acacia nilotica Indica. characterizes Marwar.
Below is the statement of Raja Bheem where he uses names of plants to distinguish his own land from that of his enemies in Rajasthan.
“Wherever the Aonla (Cassia auriculata Dell.) put forth its yellow blossom, the land is of right ours; we want nothing more, let them enjoy their stunted Babuls (Acacia nilotica Indica.), their Kureels (Capparis deciduas), the aak (Calotropis procera) but give us our sacred Peepal (Ficus religiosa Linn.) and the Aonla of the border.” [English rendering by Todd, (1829) ]
Every plant existing on this planet has economic qualities either edible, medicinal or commercial (Kaushik, 1988). The plants used in cosmetics donot merely enhance beauty but have definite medicinal value also (Sharma, 1979). They are being tested since time immemorial and proved to have side benefits in place of adverse effect generally produced by synthetic and chemical based harmful products (Parashar, 1965). A number of plants may be processed in cosmetics which are in great demand in India and abroad likely (Upadhayaya, 1985); Nandkarni, 1975, Acacia concinna DC. Vern. Shikakai ; Pods are blended into shampoo and hair cleanser with Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn Vern. Ritha to promote hair growth and to stop hair splitting, falling and dandruff.
Dyes are also obtained from flowers of Butea monosperma
O. Kuntze. (Palas), Caesalpinia sappana Linn. (Bakam) and leaves of Tectona grandes. Red dyes from Caesalpinia coriaria Willd. (Divi-divi.). Indian ink is prepared from the bark and leaves of Terminalia catappa Linn. Blue dyes from leaves of Indigofera tinctoria Linn.(Neel) and the root of Petrocarpus santalinus Linn. (Rakta Chandan) ( Jain, 1997 ).
Khejiri ( Prosopis cineraria Linn.) is most common tree in the Thar desert of Rajasthan. They are grown all over the crop fields. Crops like millets, moth ( Phaseolus aconitifolius Jacq.),Curry beans
(Phaseolus lunatus Linn.), moong (Phaseolus mungo Linn.) leaves and oil seeds grown well in combination with it. Recent researches indicate that it brings up moisture and nutrients from underground soil for crop grown above. The leguminous plants or trees in field also fix nitrogen by nitrogen fixing bacteria in the root nodules and green manure to the soil by their leaf fall.
Leaves of Trigonella foenum - graecum Linn. (Methi) are placed with clothes to protect them from insects. Oil used as luminant and cooking medium is obtained from seeds of Derris indica Benth. (Karanja ). Being fragrant, Sandal ( Santalum album Linn.) and wood is burnt in temples. Twings, wood, bark of Indigofera oblogifolia, Acacia nilotica spp. and A. indica are used for brushing teeth. The vegetable lime used in Ceylon in betels is obtained by burning the bark of Terminalis alata Heyne. ex.Roth. (Asan, Sain, Saj ). Charcol of Acacia catechu Willd. (Katha)is used in iron smelting. The stem of Abrus precatorius Linn.(Chrimiti)is used by jewellers to increase adhesion while soldring delicate ornament