Identity of the plant tagara

[Madhav Deshpande]

Tagara is a common flowering plant in Maharashtra, which grows all over 
the place in and arround Pune.  It has white flowers.  I have seen it 
many times arround my parents' home in Pune.
	Madhav Deshpande

On Sun, 22 Jan 1995, Dominik Wujastyk wrote:

> The Sanskrit plant name "tagara" is identified by some as Indian
> Rose-Bay (Tabernaemontana coronaria, Br.) but perhaps more frequently by
> others as Indian Valerian (Valeriana wallichii, DC.).  Cf. Nadkarni
> entries #2425 and #2558.
> 
> Tagara is recommended by Su"sruta as part of a remedy for skin eruptions
> due to external poisoning (Su.ka.1.53).  Use of T. coronaria is noted in
> skin disease;  Valerian is normally taken internally, to calm the
> nerves, although Gerard reports that Dioscorides recommends it against
> poison.  But again, taken internally.
> 
> One commentator on Caraka, Yogindranath Sen, says tagara is the same as
> aguru, or Aloe wood (Aquilaria agallocha, Roxb.; Nadkarni #208), but I
> think this can be ruled out.  PV Sharma, in his tr. of Caraka, vol.4,
> p.704 says tagara is Delphinium brunonianum, Royle., but since this is
> considered  poisonous this seems "inconceivable!!" (ref. "The Princess
> Bride").
> 
> Dhanvantarinighantu identifies tagara with madana, or Emetic Nut (Randia
> dumetorium, Lamk.), which has the right uses, being applied as a paste
> to disperse abscesses.  But I can see no other reason to recommend this
> identification.
> 
> Does anyone have privileged information about the identity of tagara?
> 
> Dominik
> 
> -- 
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