Economically important plants

1. Wheat

Botanical Name: Triticum aestivum

Useful parts: Whole, grain

Uses:

1. Wheat flour is suitable to make bread and bakery products.

2. Malted wheat is a major raw material for producing alcoholic beverages and nutritive drinks.

2. Black pepper

Botanical Name: Piper nigrum

Useful parts: Seeds

Uses:

1. It is used as an aromatic stimulant for enhancing salivary and gastric secretion.

2. Pepper also enhances the bio-absorption of medicine.

3. Cotton

Botanical Name: Gossypium barbadense

Useful parts: Seed coat fibres

Uses:

1. It is mainly used in the manufacturing of various textile, hosiery products, toys and is also used in hospitals.

2. Cotton fibres are used in stuffing pillows and cushions.

4. Keezhanelli

Botanical Name: Phyllanthus amarus

Useful parts: Entire shoot system

Uses:

Extract of the plant is generally used for the treatment of jaundice

5. Green gram

Botanical Name: Vigna radiata

Useful parts: Seeds

Uses:

1. Roasted, cooked or sprouted seeds are edible.

2. Fried, dehulled and broken or whole green gram is used as a popular snack and breakfast dish.

6. Banana

Botanical Name: Musa x paradisiaca

Useful parts: Fruit

Uses:

1. The banana fruit contains potassium and essential vitamins which can be eaten raw or cooked.

2. The fruit can be processed into flour and can be fermented for the production of beverages such as banana juice, vinegar, beer and vine.