Synopsis The dataset on oil yielding plants was structured in a simplistic manner, with fields for scientific name, common/vernacular names, habit and source/uses of the oil. The nomenclature has been updated to the extent possible. However, the names by which the plants are more popularly known have been kept in parenthesis. The author citation follows Brummitt and Powell (1992). The family delimitation broadly follows Cronquist's System of Classification, but later day changes, which are well justified and recognised by the larger taxonomic fraternity have also been considered. Preference has been given to the use of alternative family names rather than conserved names. The oil yielding plants that are known from other parts of the world have also been included to widen the scope of the database.