Flora of Bangladesh

Chotro-pushpo or lady's umbrella ( Holmskioldia sanguinea , family: Verbenaceae) is a woody and creeping shrub with drooping branches. It looks a lot like Bougainvillea from a distance. Bark is grey and smooth. The flowers of the deciduous plant are so unique that it is easily recognizable. It is found in the hilly forests of Sylhet of Bangladesh. The shrub is a native species of the Indian subcontinent.  The other Bangla name of the plant is Kushumika. Leaves are pubescent, dark green, elliptic-lanceolate, round or subcordate at the base, 4-6 cm long, opposite, dented with elongated and pointed apex.    The corolla of the flower is tubular, 2 cm long, red in color. Calyx almost looks like a upper side of lady's umbrella or a Chinese hat, orange-colored. Bisexual flowers bloom throughout the year but these bloom in abundance in winter and spring.  Fruit is ovoid, 1 cm wide. Seeds 4. It is propagated by seeds and cuttings.  This...

Jhika or Indian ash tree ( Lannea coromandelica , family: Anacardiaceae) is a deciduous medium-sized tree with profuse branches. Bark is grey. It emits a kind of gum. It can grow easily when branches are planted in the ground. It is found everywhere in Bangladesh. Perhaps the plant is originated from the arid region of India, Andaman Islands and Sri Lanka. Other names: Jiol, Jial, Jigor, Jiga, Jhiga, Jika, Kafila, Kamila, Bialdi, Bhadi. Leaves are compound; leaflets 5-11, lanceolate, 7-15 cm long and 5-8 cm wide, opposite.  Flowers are small, yellowish, on terminal inflorescence, arising on leaflet branches. Male flowers downward, females pubescent. Flowers bloom in spring. Flruits are small, juicy, in a bunch, reddish. Propagation of the plant is caused by seeds and cuttings.   The leafy tree looks beautiful all the year round. But in winter it becomes a completely leafless tree. Leaves and bark are used in heart disease...

Horina or Boro horina ( Lepisanthes rubiginosa , family: Sapindaceae) is a small tree with branches, attaining a height of 15 m. It is found in village thickets in Bangladesh. It is also found in South and Southeast Asia and in Australia. The little leafy tree is a beautiful one. It can be planted as an ornamental plant beside roads, in parks and gardens. Leaves are paripinnate (leaves are in pair in a pinnae), Leaflets 6-12, opposite or almost opposite, pale green in color, ovate-oblong, 5-15 cm long and 3-8 cm wide.   Inflorescence 15-30 cm long. Flowers are sweet-scented, very small, brownish white or yellowish, terminal; peatls 4, sepals 4. These bloom in March-April. Fruit is round, 1-3-lobed, almost glabrous, 1-1.5 cm long. When ripe, the fruits turn blackish. Before ripening, the fruits gradually turn yellow and red. And this is one of the easiest ways to detect the tree.  Fruits are sweet-tasted. Children love these. These are fa...

Nagesshor or Ceylon ironwood ( Mesua ferrea , family: Clusiaceae) is a medium-sized tree attaining a height of 15 m. It is regarded as one of the most beautiful ornamental trees found in Bangladesh. Angular shape has given the tree a gorgeous look. It is planted in gardens, parks, botanical gardens and in road islands in the country. New leaves and young shoots are brilliant red. As a leafy tree it gives dense shade. So it has a lot of characteristics as an avenue tree. It is originated in South and South-east Asia. It is found in Sylhet, Chottogram and  Chottogram Hill Tracts in Bangladesh. Leaves are dark green, leathery, narrower, lanceolate, opposite, 7-10 cm long, upperside shinning and lowerside whitish. It gives new leaves round the year. Flowering occurs in spring. Flowers are spectacular, sweet-scented, 4-8 cm in diameter, white or pinkish white, sepals 2, petals 4, stamens numerous. Flowers are bisexual. The fruit looks a lot like Acorn. It is r...

Nolkhagra or  Tropical reed ( Phragmites karka , family: Poaceae) is a perennial tall grass attaining a height of 2-4 m. Stem is with nodes and leaf arises from each node. The plant is found along with Kaash , beside river, canal, bell-jheel, pond and dich in Bangladesh. Leaves are large, about 20-35 cm long, narrow, deep green in color. Flowers are creamy white, small and clustered, which are largely divided. Flowering occurs in rainy season. The plant is propagated by seeds and rhizome. Leaves are used as food for livestock. A kind of mat is made from the leaves too. The stem is used for fencing. Ancient Romans were used its stem as pen. The plant is a perfect sanctuary of fish, birds and snakes. It is a plant of herbal quality. It is antiseptic, antineuralgic, diuretic and depurative. It is used to treat bone breaking and breathing problems. In heavy dose it is toxic and narcotic. The water-friendly tall grass is beautiful to look at. It can be...

Ritha or  Soapberry  ( Sapindus saponaria , family: Sapindaceae) is a a medium-sized much branching tree attaining a height of 15 m. Its bark is dark with rough scales. The deciduous tree is originated from tropical America. Nowadays it has been naturalized in Bangladesh as well as tropical areas of Asia. The good looking tree is found in the North-West region of the country. Leaves are green, 2-6 pairs per pinnae, 40 cm long, terminal leaf absent. Leaflets almost opposite or alternate, elliptic-lanceolate, 5-15 cm long and 3-6 cm wide, petioled, apex emarginate. After leaving all the leaves in the winter, new leaves arrives in the beginning of spring. Flowering occurs in the summer. Inflorescence up to 25 cm long. Flowers creamy white, tomentose. Petals 5. Fruit is drupe, solitary or pair, fleshy, subglobose, 1 cm in diameter, glabrous. Fruiting occurs in rainy season. The propagation of the plant is caused by seeds. Fibers on inner bark are u...

Palan or Scarlet wrightia ( Wrightia coccinea , family: Apocynaceae) is a small deciduous tree with branches, attaining a height of 8-10 m. The original home of the lovely small tree is Southeast Asia. 'Palam' is the another Bangla name of the plant.  The tree is very beautiful and for that it can be planted as an ornamental plant beside roads and in parks and gardens. In Bangladesh, it is found in hilly areas of greater Sylhet.   Leaves are deep green, ovoid-lanceolate, apex elongated but obtuse; opposite, petiole short, 2-3 pairs in each pinnae, terminal leaf missing, 7-12 cm long and 3-4 cm wide. At the end of the spring flowers bloom with new leaves. Flower is very attractive, scentless, 3-4 cm wide, scarlet in color, showy. Sepals 5, petals 5. Terminal inflorescence bears 2-3 flowers.  Flowers bloom in March-May. Petals are leathery. For this reason, may be, the flowers have been seen dry in the tree for a long time. Fruit ...

Bon-moricha or Pigeon berry ( Rivina humilis , family: Petiveriaceae) is an erect perennial herb with soft but slightly woody at base, attaining 1 m of height. The plant is easily recognizable by its brilliant red-colored fruits.  It can be planted in gardens and parks as an ornamental plant. The original home of the plant is USA (Florida to Texas). It is now naturalized in Bangladesh and India.  Leaves are dark green, simple, petioled, 2.5 cm long; alternate, ovate-oblong with narrow and elongated apex.   The hermaphrodite flowers are small, white with pedicel, on axillary, rarely terminal, many flowered racemes. Flowering occurs from August to April in Bangladesh. Fruit is berry, almost round, attractive, blood red.  

Daadmordon or Ringworm bush ( Senna alata , family: Caesalpiniaceae) is a tall erect shrub, attaining a height of 2.5 m. Stem is thick and yellowish. It is native to the West Indian Islands. From there it came to the country through the Portuguese. It is found in fallow lands and beside roads in Bangladesh. It is also found in the tropical areas round the world. The plant is unique to bring the royal splendor of yellow color to gardens.   As an ornamental plant it is planted in gardens and parks. The bushy shrub is a very popular medicinal plant in the country as well as Indian subcontinent.  Leaves compound, 25-60 m long, leaflets 6-10 pairs, oblong, opposite, 6-10 cm long 4-5 cm wide, sometimes slightly orcordate at the tip, sessile.  Flowers are borne on upward terminal raceme, from bottom to top, 15-20 cm long. Flowers are brilliant yellow with brownish shade, 2-5 cm wide, petals 5, several different-sized stamens in the middle...

Tridhara or Coatbuttons ( Tridax procumbens , family: Compositae) is a perennial herb with soft, hairy and weak stem. It can get a height about 1 m. The plant grows on fallow land and roadside areas as weed in Bangladesh. It can be planted in garden as an ornamental flowering herb. Leaves are light green, opposite, short petioled, ovate-lanceolate with divided or dented and hairy edge. Flowers are beautiful, showy, yellow in color, head, set on very long pedicel. In the head there are five ray florets and the centre there are closely-knit small round disk florets. Flowering occurs round the year. Flower and fruit can be seen in same plant at a time. Fruit is cotton-like. The propagation of the plant is caused by seeds; those can be spread far and wide through the air. It is a medicinal plant. It is used in different kinds of diseases. Other common names: Tunaki, Tridaxa, Tridokkho.

Kulekhara or Talmakhna ( Hygrophila auriculata , family: Acanthaceae) is a stout and erect herb with straight and undivided stem. The spiny plant is very popular as a medicinal plant in Bangladesh as well as the Indian subcontinent. Other names: Kulekkha, Kuiley-rekha,  Kanta kalika, Shoolmordon. Leaves are lanceolate, subsessile, acute at both ends with long whitish hairs, dense with straight and stout thorns that grow from each node. Outer leaves are longer than the inner ones. Both leaves and thorns remain in upward direction.   Flowers in axillary whorls. They are bright violet or bluish purple and red, sometimes whitish with soft and minor hair, corolla 2-lipped. Flower blooms in the winter. Fruit a capsule, 4-8-seeded. Seeds are ovoid (not in the pic). The body of the plant contains alkaloids, phytosterols, stigmasterol, lupeol and essential oils. Its seeds contain oil, enzymes and sterols. The plant is cooling and diuretic...