THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SANSKRIT NAMES OF MEDICINAL PLANTS USED IN AYURVEDA BASED ON MORPHOLOGY

Synonyms were the only tools for describing the plants the process was continuous and new synonyms were coined from time to time. Synonyms indicate the original source of plants while some are reminiscent source of plants while some are reminiscent of the place of their trade or commercial transaction. Synonyms served the purpose well for which they were coined i.e. indicating specific characters of plants which helped their proper identification. Charak used the synonyms strictly for the single item which did not denote any other entity leading to confusion. But in course of time, by the medieval period, a large number of synonyms accumulated which denoted more than one plant and thus lost the accuracy. In Ayurveda, Nama denotes the basonyms as well the synonyms. Rupa is specific character which includes morphology as well as properties and actions. Study of Nama and Rupa together constitute the branch known as Pharmacology, which deals with the cognition of medicinal plants.