Vanaspati

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Vanaspati (Devanagari: वनस्पति) is the Sanskrit word that now refers to the entire plant kingdom. However, according to Charaka Samhitā and Sushruta Samhita and the Vaisesikas, Vanaspati is limited to plants that bear fruits but no evident flowers.

The Rigveda divides plants into Vrska (tree), Osadhi (herbs useful to humans) and Virudha (creepers). These are subdivided into Visakha (shrubs), Sasa (herbs), Vratati (climbers), Pratanavati (creepers) and Alasala (spreading on the ground). All grasses are separately classified as Trna, flowering plants are Puspavati, and the fruit bearing ones are Phalavati. Leafless plants are placed under the group, Karira.

The Atharvaveda divides plants into eight classes, Visakha (spreading branches); (2) Manjari (leaves with long clusters); (3) Sthambini (bushy plants); (4) Prastanavati (which expands); (5) Ekasrnga (those with monopodial growth); (6) Pratanavati (creeping plants); (7) Amsumati (with many stalks); and (8) Kandini (plants with knotty joints).

The Taittiriya Samhita and the Vajasenayi Samhita the plant kingdom is classified into vrksa, vana and druma (trees), visakha (shrubs with spreading branches), sasa (a herb), amsumali (a spreading or deliquescent plant), vratati (a climber), stambini (a bushy plant), pratanavati (a creeper), and alasala (those spreading on the ground).

Manu classifies plants as (1) Osadhi – plants bearing abundant flowers and fruits, but withering away after fructification, (2) Vanaspati – plants bearing fruits without evident flowers, (3) Vrksa – tress bearing both flowers and fruits, (4) Guccha – bushy herbs, (5) Gulma – succulent shrubs, (6) Trna – grasses, (7) Pratana – creepers which spread their stems on the ground and (8) Valli – climbers and entwiners.

Charaka Samhitā and Sushruta Samhita classify plants into Vanaspati, Vrksa or vanaspatya, Virudh and Osadhi.

Susruta subdivides Virudhs into pratanavatya (creepers with spreading stem on the grounds) and gulminya (succulent herbs), and Charaka subdivides Virudhs into lata (creeper), gulma and osadhis into annuals or perennials bearing fruits and grasses which go without fruits. These are further divided into 50 groups based on their physiological actions and diseases they cure. Flowering plants are divided into sukadhanya (cereals), samidhanya (pulses), saka varga (pot herbs), phala varga (fruits), harita varga (vegetable), ahayogi varga (oils), and iksu varga (sugarcane).

The Vaisesikas classify plants under seven heads, e.g. Vrksa, Trna, Osadhi, Gulma, Lata, Avatana and Vanaspati. Defining the characteristics of the various groups Udayana's Kiranavali, remarks that Vrksas are plants with trunk, branches, flowers and fruits; Trnas are exemplified by ulupa like plant; Osadhis are plants like kaluma which die after fruition; Gulmas are plant like bhata, latas are represented by kusmanda, a species of Cucurbita; Avatanas are plants like ketaki;i and Vanaspatis are trees which produce fruits without flowers.

Parasara, the author of Vrksayurveda, classifies plants into Dvimatrka (Dicotyledons) and Ekamatrka (Monocotyledons). These are further classified into

1. Samiganiya (Fabaceae) - With hypogynous (puspakrantabijadhara) and five-petalled flowers, with gamosepalous calyx and an androecium of 10 stamens. This family has three subtypes: vakra-puspa, vikarnika-puspa and suka-puspa.
2. Puplikagalniya (Rutaceae) - Spine bearing plants with odoriferous leaves and winged petioles, flowers are hypogynous (tundamandala) with free petals and stamens. Family has two subtypes: kesaraka and maluraphala.
3. Svastikaganiya (Cruciferae) – Calyx looks like a svastika. The flower has four sepals, four petals and six stamens, and a superior ovary (tundamandala).
4. Tripuspaganiya (Cucurbitaceae) – Epigynous (kumbhamandala), often unisexual plant. The flower has five united sepals and petals and three stamens and a style with three-pointed stigma (trisirsavarata). The ovary is tri-vartaka (tri-locular).
5. Mallikaganiya (Apocynaceae) – Inflorescent, hermaphrodite (samanga) plants, calyx and corolla are united having five stamens, epipetalous (avyoktakesara). The seeds having long fine hairs (tulapucchasamanvita).
6. Kurcapuspaganiya (Compositeae) – Sessile flowers, borne on a common axis, surrounded by a common calyx and look like a brushy head (kurcakara). The ovary is inferior (puspasirsakabijadhara).

Hydrogenated vegetable oil

Vanaspati is also an Indian/South Asian slang for Vansaspati ghee, a fully or partially hydrogenated vegetable cooking oil, often used as a cheaper substitute for ghee. In India, vanaspati ghee is usually made from palm oil. Hydrogenation is performed using a catalyst known as "supported nickel catalyst", in reactors at low-medium pressure (3-10 bar).

In Pakistan, vanaspati is spelled "banaspati".

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