Language: English
Hortus Malabaricus English Edition (12 volumes) is the translation of the oldest comprehensive printed book on the natural plant Wealth of Asia and of the tropics, compiled and published in Latin by Van Rheede during 1678-1693. It contains descriptions and illustrations of 742 plants. It is a rare record of the medicinal plant wealth and traditional medical practices of ancient India. The medicinal properties of the plants, the respective diseases for which they were used for treatment and the modes of treatment as known to the ancient renowned traditional physicians of Malabar (the present state of Kerala) are described in the book. The book also provides much insight into the cultural, social, political, historical and linguistic conditions prevailing in India as well as Kerala at the time and was instrumental in deciding the political history of India and the Netherlands in the 17th century. This English translation of Hortus Malabaricus with annotations and modern botanical nomenclature, throws open a vast treasure house of knowledge to scientists, medical practitioners, researchers and historians for further study and practice, 325 years after its original publication in Latin.