Flora and Fauna of Nepal

The history of Vegetative Exploration of Nepal

The history of botanical exploration in Nepal started in 1802 when Buchanan-Hamilton and later Francis Hamilton collected plants from Kathmandu valley. In 1820 Natahniel Wallich intensively collected plants. In 1825 David Don compiled all the plants collected by Buchanan_Hamilton and wallichii and published them in Prodromus Florae Nepalensis, which is the first taxonomic work about the plants of Nepal. I.H. Burkill, in 1907, followed Wallich's route to Kathmandi and collected plants from here. Burkill recorded all his collections in his "notes from journey to Nepal". There is many other minor plant collection from Kathmandu valley but after 1960 some major botanical expeditions particularly from British Museum (England) and Kyoto and Tokyo Universities (Japan) explored Nepal. As a result many new species have been reported.

HMG of Nepal establishment a department of Medicinal Plants in 1960. After establishment, it started the work on flora by publishing bulletins. The major publications are notes on Flora of Rajikunj. Flora of Phulchoki and Godawari, Flora of Nagarjun, Supplement to the Flora of Phulwhoki and Godawari and Flora of Langtang and Cross section vegetation survey.

The natural vegetation is mainly concentrated on surrounding mountains and forested areas. In Kathmandu thithese areas are like Pashupati forest, Gokarna forest, Swoyambhu hills. Hattiban etc. the natural vegetation is subject to human disturbances.

Some name of vegetables that can be found in Nepal

English Name----------Local Name---------- -----------Scientific Name

Bitter gourd ---------- ------Karela - -----------------------------Momordica charantia
Pumpkin --------------------Pharshi -----------------------------Cucurbita maxima
Ridge gourd -----------------Pate ghiroula ------------------------Luffa acutangula
Bottle gourd----------------- Lauka ---------------------- --------Leucartha
Smooth gourd ---------------Ghiraula, ghiu toriya ----------------Luffa aegyptica
Snake gourd-----------------Chichindo ---------------------------Trichosanthes anguina
Cucumber ------------------ Kankro ------------------------------ sativus
Soya-bean ------------------ Bhatmas ----------------------------Glycine max
Cow-pea --------------------Bodi ---------------------------------Vigna catjung
Horse gram -----------------Gahat ----------------------- -------- Dolichus biflorus
French bean ----------------Simi ----------------------------------vulgaris
Broad bean -----------------Bakula -------------------------------Vicia faba
Pea ------------------------Matar -------------------------------- Pisum sativam
Luntil ----------------------Masur --------------------------------Les esculenta
Fenugreek -----------------Methi --------------------------------Trigonella foenum graceum
Cress ----------------------Chamsur ----------------------------- Lepidum sativum
Gram 9bengal Gram -------Chana -------------------------------- Cicer arietum
Onion---------------------- Pyaj ---------------------------------Allium cepa
Garlic---------------------- Lahsun ------------------------------ Allium santivum
Coriander ------------------Dhaniya------------------------------ Coriandrum sativum
Carrot -------------------- Gajar -------------------------------- Daucus carota
Celery-------------------- Apium --------------------------------graviolens
Cabbage ------------------ Bandagobi---------------------------- Brassica oleracea v capitata
Cauliflower ----------------Kauli--------------------------------- Bassica oleracea v bortrytis
Radish ---------------------Mula -------------------------------- Raphanus sativus
Turnip ---------------------Salagam------------------------------Brassica rapa
Mustard -------------------Rayo ---------------------------------Brassica juncea
Indian rape ----------------Tori ----------------------------------Brassica campestris
Knoll Knoll -----------------Ganth gobi ---------------------------Brassica oleracea
Tomato --------------------Golbhenda ---------------------------Lycopersicum esculentum
Egg plant -------------------Bhenta ------------------------------Solanum melongena
Buckwheat -----------------Phapar ------------------------------ Fagopyrum esculentum
Spinach --------------------Palungo ----------------------------- Spinacea loeracea
beet ----------------------- Chukandar--------------------------- Beat vulgaris
Colocasia-------------------- Karkalo----------------------------- Colocasia esculenta
Alocasia --------------------- Pindalu----------------------------- Alocacia indicum
Asparagus ------------------- Kurilo ------------------------------Ipomoea batatas
Sweet potato -----------------Sagarkhanda----------------------- Solanum tuberosum
Potato ----------------------- Alu ---------------------------------Solanum tuberosum
Ginger -----------------------Aduwa------------------------------ Zinziber officinale
Turmeric -------------------- Haledo, Besar----------------------- Curcuma longa
Cheat nut --------------------Katus -------------------------------Castanopsis hysix
Chestnut--------------------- Musre Katus ------------------------Castanopsis tribuloide

Religious Plants and their Nepali and Scientific Name

English Name----------------Nepali Name ----------------Scientific Name

Kusha grass---------------------- -Kush -------------------------Demotachya bipinata
Birch ----------------------------- Bhojpatra-------------------- Betula utilis
Chaunker ----------------------- --Shami ----------------------- Ficusbenjamina
Sandal wood --------------------- - Srikhanda ------------------- Santalum album
Indian hemp--------------------- - Bhang ------------------------Cannabis sativa
China rose------------------------ Japapuspi ---------------------Hibiscus rosasinensis
Oleander -------------------------Karvir------------------------- Norium inducum
Chinese date-------------------- - Bayer ------------------------- Zizphus mauritiana
Butter fruit--------------------- - Chyuri -------------------------Bassica butyracea
Betel -----------------------------Pan ----------------------------Piper bettle
Night jasmine------------------- - Parijat -------------------------Nyctanthes arbor tristis
Holyseed bead ------------------- Rudraksha -------------------- Elaecocarpus nerefolia
Lotus ----------------------------Kamal-------------------------- Ocimum nucifera
Bodhi tree---------------------- - Pipal ---------------------------Ficusreligiosa
Banyan -------------------------- Bar ---------------------------- Bel
Mango -------------------------- Aamp --------------------------Mangifera indica
Banana --------------------------Kera ---------------------------Musa paradisiacal
Bamboo ------------------------- Bans----------------------------Bambus spp
Thorn apple ----------------------Dhaturo -----------------------Datura stromonium
Bermunda grass ----------------- Dubo-------------------------- Cyodon dactylon
Betel nut ------------------------Supari--------------------------Areca carechu
Chaff folwer-------------------- -Apa-marga --------------------Achyranthus aspora
Easter lily ----------------------- Gun keshari -------------------Narcissus pecticus
Bamboo shoots ------------------Tama -------------------------Dendrocalamus
Lady's finger (okra) -------------Ramtoriya ---------------------Hibiscus esculentus
Bell peper Bhede---------------- khursani ----------------------Capsicum frutescence v grossum
Chilly ---------------------------Khursani---------------------- Capsicum frutescence varlongum
Mushroom ----------------------Chyau -------------------------Agaricus campestric
Yam ----------------------------Tarul --------------------------Dioscorea alata
Bauhimia ----------------------- Koiralo ------------------------Bauhini purpurea