Hortus Malabaricus, a 17th-century Latin botanical treatise, documents over 740 plant species of the Malabar Coast. Pioneered by Hendrik van Rheede and later translated by Dr. K.S. Manilal, it provides insights into traditional plant-based knowledge, showcasing the biodiversity of modern-day Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
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Dr. K.S. Manilal, the esteemed botanist who brought the ancient botanical treasure Hortus Malabaricus to the modern world, passed away.
Hortus Malabaricus (translated Garden of Malabar) is a 17th-century Latin botanical treatise documenting the varieties and medicinal properties of the flora of the Malabar coast.
It is a twelve-volume encyclopaedia of over 740 plant species native to the beautiful shores of modern-day Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
This treatise was based on earlier documentation by Itty Achudan. It was compiled in 12 volumes by Hendrik van Rheede, the governor of Dutch Malabar between 1669 and 1676.
Hortus Malabaricus was published posthumously in Amsterdam between 1678 and 1693.
English and Malayalam translations of Hortus Malabaricus were published by the University of Kerala in 2003 and 2008 respectively, largely due to the efforts of Professor K. S. Manilal, Emeritus of the University of Calicut who devoted more than 35 years of his life to research for the translation and annotation of the original text of the Hortus Malabaricus in Latin.
Plants of the Malabar coast are mentioned in these volumes, which at one time referred to the stretch along the Western Ghats from Goa to Kanyakumari.
The book provides a detailed description of the flora of the Malabar district along with sketches and detailed descriptions.
The book contains more than 742 different plants and their native science. The book also uses a classification system based on the traditions adopted by practitioners in the region.
Apart from Latin, plant names have been recorded in other languages including Malayalam, Konkani, Arabic, and English.
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q.Hortus Malabaricus which was recently in the news is related to:
Answer: A Explanation: Hortus Malabaricus is a monumental work on the flora of the Malabar Coast, particularly in Kerala, and was compiled by the Dutch physician and botanist Hendrik Adriaan van Reede in the 17th century. It is considered one of the earliest and most important botanical works on the region's diverse plant life. |
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