Kachchhara or Ceylon hydrolea, Hydrolea zeylanica

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Kachchhara or Ceylon hydrolea (Hydrolea zeylanica, family: Hydrophyllaceae) is a trailing or semi-erect annual herb with branches. It can get a length of 30-40 cm. By the roots, produced from nodes, it survives on the ground. The branches are reddish and tomentose.

Other Bangla name:  Ishanguli. 


Despite its beautiful flowers, it is still not popular among the gardeners of Bangladesh.


Short-petioled leaves are simple, lanceolate, entire. Showy flowers borne in terminal or axillary inflorescence, subsessile. Petals 5, sepals 5, stamens 5. Sepals are lanceolate, pubescent, persistent. Flowering occurs in late autumn to winter (Oct-Jan). 


Fruit is a capsule, thin, transparent, globose, many-seeded. Propagation is caused by seeds. 


The plant is often used as fodder. The leaves have antiseptic properties that are used in wounds. The leaves are also used to the treatment of ulcer.


It is found in shallow water and ditches and as an weed in crop field throughout the country. The plant is also found in the tropical zones of the world.

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Makal or Mahakal, Trichosanthes tricuspidata

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Makal or Mahakal ( Trichosanthes tricuspidata , family: Cucurbitaceae) is a woody climber with tendril and branches, attaining a height of 10-12 m. The multiangular-branched plant climbs up very far by holding any tree in the forest. It is found in the hilly areas as well as plain forests and village thickets in Bangladesh. It is also found in Indian subcontinent, Australia and some countries of South and Southeast Asia.  According to ancient Sanskrit scriptures the other names of the plant are Bishala, Mohendro-baruni.  In the Himalayas it has been seen at an altitude of 5000 feet. There are many refferences to the fruit in Bangla and Sanskrit literature. Someone is very nice to look at but he/she is useless--writers usually jokingly give examples of this fruit. Its roots and attractive fruits are packed with medicinal properties.  The size and shape of leaves may vary. These are multilobed or trilobed, alternate, rough in both sides, 5-12 cm long, petioled, cor
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