Vanaspati

Vanaspati (Devanagari: ) is the Sanskrit word that now refers to the entire plant kingdom. However, according to "Charaka Samhitā" and "Sushruta Samhita" medical texts and the "Vaisesikas" school of philosophy, "vanaspati" is limited to plants that bear fruits but no evident flowers. In the "Rigveda", 9th Mandala, Hymn 5.10, "Vanaspati" (literally meaning: Lord of the Forest) is a deity presiding over the forest and described as the "bright golden hued Vanaspati, with its thousand branches."
Concept in Hindu scriptures.
The "Rigveda" divides plants into Vrksha (tree), Oshadhi (herbs useful to humans) and Virudha (creepers). These are subdivided into:
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".
Other veda, the "Atharvaveda" divides plants into eight classes:
The "Taittiriya Samhita" and the "Vajasenayi Samhita" texts the plant kingdom is classified into:
In the words of Brahma, the "Manu" classifies plants as
"Charaka Samhitā" and "Sushruta Samhita" medicine texts classify plants into "Vanaspati", "Vrksa" or "vanaspatya", "Virudh" and "Osadhi". This second "Susruta" subdivides Virudhs into "pratanavatya" (creepers with spreading stem on the grounds) and "gulminya" (succulent herbs), whereas the first "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 school of philosophy 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:
Parasara, the author of Vrksayurveda, classifies plants into Dvimatrka (Dicotyledons) and Ekamatrka (Monocotyledons). These are further classified into:
Hydrogenated vegetable oil.
"Vanaspati" or "Banaspati" is also a South Asian slang for Vanaspati/Banaspati ghee of which "DALDA" is the leading brand in Indian markets. Vanaspati is a fully or partially hydrogenated vegetable cooking oil, often used as a cheaper substitute for ghee and butter. 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). Vanaspati ghee is very high in trans fats, which may compose up to 50% of Vanaspati.