Shohosro-beli or Chinese Glory Bower, Clerodendrum chinense

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Shohosro-beli or Chinese Glory Bower (Clerodendrum chinense, family: Verbenaceae) is a perennial shrub with quadrangular stem, attaining a height of 1-1.5 m. Usually, many plants of the species are seen together in wilderness in Bangladesh. As an ornamental plant it is planted in parks and gardens in the country. 


Leaves are large and thin, 10-15 cm long and 7-12 cm wide, ovate-cordate, light green, hairy, deeply serrated, long petioled. Lower side of the leaf is light brown with red shade. 


Summer and Rainy seasons are the flowering time of this evergreen shrub. Flowers are clustered on round head at the end of branches. Flowers are white with pink shade, multipetaled, sweet-scented, 2.5 cm across. 


Flowers are very much like Beli (Arabian jasmine, Jasminum sambac). The fragrance of the flowers are very much like that flower too. That’s why the Bangla name of the plant is Hajar-beli. 


It is believed that the original home of the plant is China. 


The propagation of the plant is caused by cuttings. It can also be propagated by the saplings from the roots. The roots of the plant are used in skin diseases. 

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