Some plants in the Museum collection
‘Betel nut’ palm
Pandan (box to hold betel ingredients and equipment).
North India, 1800s.
Scholar tree
The heroine’s scribe uses a wooden writing board. Rajasthan, about
1610.
‘Betel nut’ palm
A raja takes a betel quid from a servant. Detail from the Gazi
scroll. Bengal, about 1800.
Peepul
Leaf-shaped plaque depicting the Buddha beneath the peepul. Bodh
Gaya, India about AD 800.
Holy basil
Rama, hero of the epic the Ramayana, honours a tulsi
plant. North India, 1800s.
Bamboo
Split bamboo is woven to make circular boats (coracles). This is in
the Museum's collection.
Lotus
The sun-god Surya, whose emblem is the lotus in full bloom. Orissa,
1200s.
Peepul
The peepul tree beneath which the Buddha sat. Amaravati. 1st
century AD.
Holy basil
A female devotee approaches a tulsi plant. North India,
1700s.
