Using advanced AI paleography tools, scholars have deciphered 10th-century fragments written in the Nandinagari script that outline a rigorous taxonomic system for medicinal orchids. These manuscripts, found in a private library in Karnataka, provide detailed descriptions of plant morphology and specific seasonal harvesting protocols based on lunar cycles.
The research, detailed in Ethnobotany & Heritage, reveals that medieval Indian botanists used a classification system based on therapeutic properties and ecological niches. This discovery predates similar Western systematic botanical classification by several centuries and showcases the depth of ancient Indian knowledge regarding biodiversity and pharmacological preservation.