Indian Snakeroot (Rauvolfia serpentina)
Scientific Name: Rauvolfia serpentina — Sarpagandha.
Native Home: Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia.
Height: Usually 0.5–1 metre.
Lifespan: Perennial shrub.
Uses and Harvesting
Timber: Not used for timber; valued for its roots.
Harvesting: Roots are collected for pharmaceutical processing under appropriate cultivation and harvesting practices.
Age to Harvest: Commonly around 2–3 years, depending on growing conditions.
Products: Pharmaceutical compounds and botanical research materials.
History and Global Production
Traditional Use: Historically used in South Asian traditional medicine; its compounds also became important in modern medicine.
Global Spread: Native to South Asia and cultivated in parts of Asia for pharmaceutical production.
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