[MPWG] Ethnobotanical uses of weedy species; creative thinkers called to action

Mon May 17 12:12:41 CDT 2004

Every so often, MPWG members request fellow listservers to send them
information on the potential medicinal uses for weedy species growing on
their property.  Well, the question is well-founded.

The following links provide information on the ethnobotanical use of
several "weedy" species (or their relatives) from India that are also found
in the Western Hemisphere.   According to the Alien Plant Working Group
(APWG; see website - http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/list/a.htm), most of
these species are "plants known to be invasive in natural areas around the
United States."  This brings to mind the old adage, "One man's trash is
another man's (or woman's, for tha matter!) treasure."

In his surveys, Pankaj provides comprehensive information on everything
from usage to chemical consituents.  It is really interesting to compare
usage in India with that here - although we're on different continents,
there is remarkable similarity.

If any of you creative thinkers have ideas as to how we could incorporate
information such as this (i.e. medicinal uses of weedy species) on our
website, in conjunciton with the APWG website, I would love to hear from
you!

-Patricia

Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.
Botanist - Division of Scientific Authority
Chair - Plant Conservation Alliance - Medicinal Plant Working Group
US Fish & Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 750
Arlington, VA  22203
703-358-1708 x1753
FAX: 703-358-2276
Working for the conservation and sustainable use of our green natural
resources.
<www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal>

----- Forwarded by Patricia De Angelis/ARL/R9/FWS/DOI on 05/17/2004 12:37
PM -----

                      pankaj oudhia                                                                                                                   
                      <pankajoudhia at ya         To:      Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov                                                                    
                      hoo.com>                 cc:                                                                                                    
                                               Subject: Message from P.OUDHIA,INDIA                                                                   
                      05/13/2004 11:22                                                                                                                
                      AM                                                                                                                              

Dear Dr.Patricia,
       Recently seven fact sheets on Indian medicinal herbs have appeared
at
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/Indices/index_ab.html
1.Asgandh or Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/CropFactSheets/asgandh.html
2.Punanrnava or Santhi (Boerhaavia diffusa Linn.)
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/CropFactSheets/punanrnava.html
3.Malkangni or Peng (Celastrus paniculatus Wild)
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/CropFactSheets/peng.html
4.Motha or Nut Grass (Cyperus rotundus)
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/CropFactSheets/motha.html
5.Bar or Bargad Ficus benghalensis L.
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/CropFactSheets/ficus.html
6.Karela (Momordiaca charantia Linn.)
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/CropFactSheets/karela.html
7.Khareti or Bala (Sida cordifolia Linn.)
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/CropFactSheets/bala.html

If you wish,you can forward it for the group.
regards
Pankaj

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