Flora of Bangladesh

Boro shialmuti  or Siam weed ( Chromolaena odorata, family: Asteraceae) is a fast growing and highly reproductive perennial herb with many branches. In suitable condition, it can grow up to 10 m. Branches are hairy and glandular, stem woody. It grows in fallow land, in jungle and on the side of roads. It is regarded as an invasive plant round the globe. It has been said that, in Bangladesh, it escaped from the botanical gardens of Dhaka in the 19th centuary. It is originated in Americas, from USA to South America.  Leaves are green, triangular-ovate, 3-10 cm long, 2-5 cm wide, deeply dented with pointed end, opposite. The leaves give off a pungent scent when crushed. Bunch of flowers bloom in the shape of head. Flowers are small and light violet.   Fruits are round. Seeds are achenes, hairy. Propagation of the plant is caused by seeds. The seeds usually float in the air and travel long distances. However, it can go to different places through the body of  anim...

Tit begun or Turkey berry ( Solanum torvum , family: Solanaceae) is a perennial undershrub with hairy stem and shoots, attaining a height of 3 m. Stem with minute spots have stout spines. In Bangladesh it can be seen almost everywhere including the hilly areas. It is also found in Central & South America. It grows as weed in waste place and beside cropfields and roads.  Other names: Goth begun, Gota begun. Leaves are compound, opposite, hairy, ovate, or multi-lobed, 12-15 cm long and 7-10 cm wide. Flowers are small, pure white with triangular lobes, 2-2.5 cm wide, bloom in cluster. Flowers and fruits are found almost all the year round. Fruit is berry, globose, yellow when ripen, 1-1.5 in diametre. Dried fruits do not fall off easily. These are dark brown in color. It is propagated by seeds.  Root is used for heart disease, asthma, cough, worm, toothache and fever. The fruit is used in snake bites. Leaf juice mixed with gijnger i...

Shorgo- poddo or Heaven lotus ( Gustavia augusta , family: Lecythidaceae) is a small or medium-sized evergreen tree with few branches. Trunk is straight and smooth. The bushy evergreen tree can get a height up to 10 m. Its flower is a spectacular one. Not only that, its flowers are sweet-scented. Its beauty is quite similar to Lotus . That's why it's called Heaven Lotus or  Tree lotus . Other names: Dadra (Bangla), Majestic heaven lotus. The leaves are crowded at the very end of the stem. Those are deep green, quite big, 30-50 cm long and 10-12 cm wide, glossy, narrow at the base and broader at the end, aternate, serrated, sessile or short-petioled. Young leaves are beautiful, almost bronze-colored. Although the tree has many beautiful features, it should be said, It has an unpleasant odor on its leaves. Flowers are borne in terminal inflorescence. Those are big and showy, 8-12 cm wide; petals 6-8, one is curved; pink or white, stamens numerous. Though it i...

Lojjaboti or Touch me not ( Mimosa pudica , family: Fabaceae) is a annual or perennial woody and creeping herb. The prickly herb is native to South America. Nowadays it is found throughout the tropical world as well as South and Southeast Asia.  Common names: Lojjaboti, Touch me not, Sensitive plant, Sleepy plant, Shy plant. Leaves are very sensitive─a slight touch instantly causes them to unfurl and shrink. The Bangla name (Lojjaboti) has been derived from this special attribute. Leaves are pinnately compound, pinnae 2 pairs, blade 8 pairs, linear, opposite, looking like feather. Flowers are small, pinkish in color, clustered as head. The plant is used to prepare medicine for dysentery, piles, constipation, snake poison, arthritis and toothache. It helps to stop abnormal blood emission due to abortion. Friut is a pod, 1-3 cm long. 2-7 prickly pods consists in a cluster. Hard coated seeds are pale brown. Propagation of the plant i...

Hongsho lota or Calico flower ( Aristolochia littoralis , family: Aristolochiaceae) is an extensive climber with woody and slender stem. It can attain a height of 3-6 m. The plant is native to South America.  Common names : Hongsho lota, Calico flower, Elegant Dutchman's pipe. Flower is solitary, 6-8 cm across, violet inner side, hollow at the bottom, looking like swan. Insects are often trapped inside the pungent smelled flowers.  The evergreen climber produces flowers from April-October.  Leaves are green, heart-shaped, blunted at the end. In Bangladesh, the vine is grown in gardens for its strange-looking flowers. It needs strong support for its proper growth. Fruit is long with flat seed. Its propagation is caused by seed.

Kochuripana or Water hyacinth ( Eichhornia crassipes , family: Pontederiaceae) is an aquatic plant with short stem and is native to tropical and sub-tropical South America. It may rise above the surface of the water as much as 1 meter in height. The free-floating perennial is found in the rivers, canals and ditches in Bangladesh. Common names: Water hyacinth, Floating water hyacinth, Lilac devil, Nile lily, Water orchid, Water violet. Broad, thick, glossy leaves are ovate or rhomboid, glabrous, 10-20 cm across, that come out from the stem. Root is fibrous, freely hanging, purple-black in color. Inflorescence is long and erect, bears of 8-15 conspicuously attractive flowers with six mauve or purple-colored petals (each up to 4 cm long), mostly painted with yellow and violet colors.  In Bangladesh, it is regarded as the most troublesome aquatic weed to crops and water-transportation. Some parts of the plant, especially the green pa...

Bokkon or   Frogfruit   ( phyla nodiflora , family: verbenaceae) is a creeper, 15-90 cm long. Stem is branched, nodes giving rise to aerial roots. The plant is is native to South America and the United States and has become naturalized in the warmer parts of the world. It grows on fallow land in Bangladesh.  Common names:  Bokkon, Frogfruit, Turkey tangle frogfruit, Capeweed Flowers are small, violet, whorled on the top of 2-7 cm long spike inflorescence. Leaves are small, sessile, obovate, front part serrate.  The plant bears flower in the nodule. For this reason, the species has been named nodiflora. In Sanskrit, it is called Vasir and Vasuka. A lar g e colony The plant is propagated by seeds, root division and cuttings.  Leaves are eaten as vegetables in rural areas to reduce pain and swelling of body. It is also used to destroy insects. Leaves are consumed as alternative to tea especially in the Philip...

Katabegun or Jongli tomato ( Solanum sisymbriifolium , family: Solanaceae) is an annual viscid and spiny herb native to South America and is currently distributed throughout the world. The viscid, hairy and spiny bush is found near water bodies, beside roads and fallow lands. The erect herb (about 1 meter tall) acts as an invasive weed in some parts of its range by out-competing local vegetation. Common names:  S ticky nightshade, Viscid nightshade, Wild tomato. Spiny leaves are ovate-lanceolate, 4-6 lobed, 40 cm long and 25 cm wide. The leaves are borne on petioles 1-6 cm long and are pubescent both above and below with stellate and glandular hairs. The 5-parted flowers are white, light blue, or mauve, about 3 cm in diameter, and are subtended by a hairy calyx 5-6 mm long.  Vivid red, succulent, globular berries are edible, almost tastes like tomatoes; 12-20 mm in diameter with pale yellow seeds 2.9-3.2 mm long. The plant is propagated by seeds. The fruit ...

Kakrol or Spiny gourd ( Momordica dioica, family: Cucurbitaceae) is a perennial, dioecious, climbing creeper, originated from Indo-Malayan region and gradually found in East Asia, Polynesia, tropical Africa and South America. Common names: Kakrol, Spiny gourd, Teasel gourd, Bristly Balsam Pear, prickly carolaho. The yellowish and oval-shaped fruits have soft prickle. Seeds are egg-shaped, emarginate.    Leaves are petioled, 4-8 cm long and 3-6 cm wide, broadly ovate, base cordate, margin denticulate, apex acute. Flowers are single, axillary, whitish, yellow at the centre.  Momordica dioica is used as a vegetable in Bangladesh, India, as well as South Asian countries.  The climber has tuberous roots and simple tendrils. It is used in the treatment of  hypertension, diabetes and   to relieve pain.