Welcome to plants

Here you can explore 25 plants in-depth. Find out about their uses, from the everyday to the unusual. There is information on their history, medicinal properties and even instructions on how to grow them at home. You will recognise the use of many of these plants in your own everyday life, but will also find some facts that might surprise you!

Choose a plant:




Photograph of sliced betelnuts
What's this?
These are slices of betelnut. Betelnut is chewed as a stimulant with betel pepper leaves (paan). Betel pepper stains the mouth and gums red.

A photograph of a hand with painted henna patterns
Leaves of the henna plant produce a red-brown dye. This is used to stain nails, hands, feet and hair. Body decorations are an important part of Hindu weddings and the Islamic festival of Eid al-fatr.
Photograph of holy basil
Many Hindu homes contain a holy basil plant, also known as tulsi. Holy basil is the most sacred plant in the Hindu religion. It represents purity, serenity, harmony, luck, happiness and good health.