Interest in medicinal plants as a re-emerging health aid has been fuelled by the rising costs of prescription drugs in the maintenance of personal health and well-being. Herbal-based traditional medicine has become popular in developed countries in recent years, and its use is likely to increase in the coming years. This system has advantages over the modern medicine as it is prophylactic. Therefore, it would be a wise step if most of medicinal plants, which are lesser known to mankind but have immense potential, particularly those which are in high demand and rare should be cultivated and brought into limelight.

The basis for this book originally have been stemmed from the passion of both the authors in order to develop better methods of conveying and spreading the cultivation aspects of many crops and its uses by compiling the information available. As the world moves further into the advanced age, along with generating vast amount of information, there will be a greater need to access legacy plant materials with technology available. Thus this book helps in accessing the information on rare medicinal plants and thereby breaking down barriers of accessibility of limited information.

Dr. Raviraja Shetty G, did his Ph.D in Horticulture from University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India. He worked on biodiversity, crop improvement, propagation and conservation of Rare, Endangered and Threatened (RET) medicinal plants of Western Ghats. He has handled DST-Fast track young scientist project entitled Exploration, Conservation and Utilization of RET Medicinal plants of Western Ghats. Dr. Shetty has received Environmentalist of the Year-2010 award by National Environmental Science Academy, New-Delhi, Young Scientist of the year 2014 award by Scientific and Environmental Research Institute, Kolkata, Scientist of year award 2020 by National Environmental Science Academy, New-Delhi and Best Faculty award by Education Expo TV, EET- CRS, Noida. Recently he has been conferred with ìBiodiversity Conservation awardî from Karnataka Biodiversity Board He has chaired many sessions in national and international conferences in the field of Horticulture and medicinal plants. He has delivered lead talks and invited talks at various national and international conferences. He has wide international exposure and visited countries like Serbia, Portugal, France, Israel, Switzerland and Germany to present his research work and to attend international trainings. He has guided more than 20 M.Sc. and Ph. D students for their research as Major Advisor. To his credit he has more than 60 research papers published in national and international journals. He has handled various research projects funded by DST, NMPB, ICAR, , NHM and GOK. He is the member for Medicinal Plant Specialist Group and Species survival Group of International Union for Nature Conservation (IUCN). Presently he is working as Associate Professor and Head at Agricultural & Horticulture Research Station, Ullal, Mangalore under Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural & Horticultural Sciences, Shivamogga.

Tamanna Arif, pursuing her Ph.D at the University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, is an esteemed student who aspires to be a innovative scientist. She has done her under graduation and post graduation at the KSN University of Agricultiral and Horticultural Sciences, Shivamogga. Her early achievements in a nutshell are; She has been a meritorious student and is going to be a recipient of Gold medal in her Post graduation. She has proactively participated and presented abstracts, posters and research work in various National and International Conferences. She has carried out her research work on ëSoilless cultivation of Gingerí and have been bagged ëBest Poster Awardí for the research work by the University. She has also published about 20 articles in reputed magazines and journals and few articles of them have been awarded with various titles. Her achievements have been recognized and conferred with ëEmerging Scientist Awardí at the International Scientist Conference on Engineering, Science and Medicine 2021. Currently, she is pursuing her first year of Doctoral degree at UHS, Bagalkot.

1.     Introduction: The Scope and Importance

2.     Devil’s Cotton, Abromaaugusta L.

3.     Indian Aconite, Aconitum balfouriiStapf

4.     Angelica AngelicaglaucaEdgew

5.     Aloewood, AquilariamalaccensisLam.syn. A. agallochaRoxb.

6.     Danti, BaliospermummontanumMuell. Arg

7.     Brazil Wood, Caesalpiniasappan L. 

8.     Perfumed Cherry,CallicarpamacrophyllaVahl

9.     Gandrayan,CinnamomumcamphoraNees&Eberm

10.   Tree Turmeric, Cosciniumfenestratum (Gaertn.) Colebr.

11.   Kalimusali, CurculigoorchioidesGaertn

12.   Black Zedoary, Curcuma caesiaRoxb.

13.   Round Zedoary, Curcuma zedoaria(Christ.) Rosc

14.   Himalayan Marsh Orchid, Dactylorhizahatagirea(D.Don) Soo

15.   Rattalu, DioscoreabulbiferaL.

16.   English Speed-Wheel, EvolvulusalsinoidesLinn.

17.   White Teak, GmelinaarboreaRoxb

18.   Gurmar, GymnemasylvestreR. Br. ex Schult

19.   Puskarmool, InularacemosaHook. F

20.   Common Juniper, Juniperuscommunis Linn

21.   Spikenard, Nardostachys grandiflora DC; Syn. Nardostachysjatamansi DC

22.   Turpeeth, Operculinaturpethum (Linn.) Silva-Manso Syn. Ipomoea turpethum R. Bv.

23.   Sonapatha, Oroxylumindicum Vent

24.   Pistanchio Tree, Pistaciaintegerrima Stew. ex Brandis

25.   Indian Podophyllum, PodophyllumhexandrumRoyle

26.   Vijaysar, Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb

27.   RevandChini, Rheum emodi wall. exMeissn

28.   Manjit, Rubiacordifolia L.

29.   Kuchila, Strychnosnux-vomica Linn.

30.   Rohida Tree,Tecomellaundulata (Sm.) Seem. Syn. Tecomaundulata (Sm.) G. Don.

31.   Giloe, Tinosporacordifolia (Willd.) Miers ex HK. f. and Th. Syn. MeninspermumcordifoliumWilld

32.   Vellapine, Vateriaindica Linn.

33.   BanafshaViola serpensLinn