Flora of Bangladesh

Koinari or Golden gardenia  ( Gardenia coronaria , family: Rubiaceae) is a medium-sized deciduous tree with profuse branches at the top. The tree can get a height of  12-15 m. It is found in the hilly areas of Sylhet, Chottogram and Chottogram Hill Tracts of Bangladesh.  Leaves are simple, glossy green, oblong-lanceolate, 10-20 cm long, short-petioled, 3-5 opposite leaves at the top of the branchlets. Veins and midrib are stout in texture. Flowers are yellow, very fragrant, showy, 5-7 cm across, petals 5, having long tube, calyx tubular too. Flower blooms at the spring. Fruit appears single or in a pair, 2-5 cm long, 5-angled. The plant is propagated by seeds. The tree, despite being quite beautiful not so popular in our country. Its wood is used as firewood. The inside of the fruit is eaten by the children. It is found abundantly in India and Myanmar. It is grown in the parks and botanical gardens in the country.  

Bajna or Cape yellowwood ( Zanthoxylum rhetsa , family: Rutaceae) is a medium-sized or large deciduous tree with numerous branches. It can get a height of 10-13 m. The whole trunk and old branches are covered with strong prickles. The bark is thick and yellow.                                               Other names : Bajinali, Kata-horina, Tambul. Despite being thorny, it is quite a beautiful tree and can be planted as an ornamental plant beside roads and in parks and gardens.  In Bangladesh it is found in hilly areas Shal forests. The tree is also found in the countries of South and Southeast Asia. Flowers are very small, pale yellow, borne at the tip of the branch.  Flowering occurs in the summer. Fruits are small, almost round, blackish when ripe. Each fruit has only one seed, which is black and bright. The propagation o...

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 ...

Shet-shimul or Kapok ( Ceiba pentandra , family: Bombacaceae) is a tall deciduous tree, up to 30 m high, with fast-growing branches. Trunk is straight, prickly and greenish when young. The tree's trunk is so strong that it often covers a wide area. The original home of the plant is Central America. The leaves, flowers, fruits look a lot like Shimul ( Bombax ceiba ) . Other names: White silk cotton tree, Java cotton, Silk cotton. Leaves are alternate, compound, digitately arranged; leaflets 5-8 entire, blade 10-12 cm long, lanceolate, shortly petioled. Flowers are creamy white, 2.5 cm across, petals 5, borne on numerous axillary clusters near the end of branches. Fruit is a capsule, ovoid, oblong, green when raw, grey when ripe, 7-12 cm long, 5-valved, many-seeded.                       Flowering occurs from January-March along with the emergence of new leaves. Leaf, bark, fruit, flow...

Pitalu or False White Teak (T rewia nudiflora , family: Euphorbiaceae) is a medium-sized deciduous tree with soft stem. Young branches and leaf backs are hairy. This is an indigenous plant of Bangladesh, as well as Indian subcontinent. Leaves are simple, green, ovate-cordate, 10-18 cm long and 6-13 cm wide, edge entire or serrate, apex acute, oppositely arranged. Petiole is 2.5-8 cm long.  During the spring when flowering comes it seems to be the best flowering tree of the land. Male and female flowers appear on separate trees.  Male flowers are borne on 20 cm long hanging spike inflorescence. Female flowers usually grow as single on long penduncle. Male flowers bear numerous yellow stamens. Female flowers have no petals. Flowering season of the tree is spring (Feb-Apr).   Fruit is globose, 2-4 cm wide, 5 chambered. Fruit ripens in Oct-Dec. Propagation is easily possible from seeds. The plant is found almost everywhere in ...

Akorkonto or Sage-leaved alangium ( Alangium salvifolium , family: Alangiaceae) is a medium-sized, usually 4-5 meters high, deciduous tree with branches. Wood is fragrant, firm and lasting. It is better as fuel. Propagation of the plant is caused by seeds and cuttings. Other Bangla names: Akorkanta, Ankura. Leaves are 8-12 cm long, elliptical-lanceolate with slightly pointed apex.  Dark green leaves are hairy and they have some circular convex marks. There are some pointed big thorns, which are converted from young branches, available on the trunk of the tree. These are the main features of the tree.  Flowers are scented and creamy white with linear petals. Flowers bloom in cluster in March. Edible fruits are round and purplish black when ripe. Soft and sticky part of it is delicious. Fruits with Vitamin-C prevents scurvy. Root, leaf, fruit and bark are used in local medicine. Propagation is caused by root and seed. The beautiful leafy and fl...

Toon or  Indian cedar   ( Toona ciliata , family: M eliaceae)  is a medium-sized fa st growing deciduous tree with large branches. The tree from the  Mahogany family  is found throughout South and southeast Asia and Australia.  Common names: Toon, Toona,  Red cedar,   Indian cedar, Indian mahogany . Leaves are compound ( 10-14 pairs of leaflets),  lanceolate with sharp end. Leaflet is 5-25 cm long and 3-5 cm wide with slightly wavy edges. Flowers are small,  tubularin-shaped,  white and terminal. There are orange-red gland at the centre of every flower. Flowers are  pentamerous,  bisexual.  Flower blooms in February-March. The fruit is a capsule. Seed has five wings. Leaf,  bark,  stem,  f ruit  are  used in bronchitis, gastric troubles, dysentery, burning sensation, headache and leucoderma.  Powder of bark is used for dysentery and fever. A kind of mixtu...

Furush or Crape myrtle ( Lagerstroemia indica , family: Lythraceae) is a small deciduous tree or large shrub with hard branches from the family of Jarul attaining a height of 3-6 m. The bark is smooth, pinkish-grey and spotted, moulting each year. This beautiful flowering plant is very popular as a road-island tree in Bangladesh.                         Common names:  Furush, Crape myrtle, Crepe Myrtle, Crepeflower. Leaves shed each winter; new leaves grow early in the spring. Leaves are smooth-edged, circular or oval-shaped, and dark green. Flowers, on different trees, are white, pink, light pink, mauve, red, purple, in panicles up to 9 cm. It gives flower from late summer to rainy season. Young plants grow fairly quickly and will often flower in their first year after planting out. Propaga-tion of this magnificent shrub is caused by cuttings.  It is so famous all over the t...

Kaat-badam  or  Bengal almond ( Terminalia catappa , family: Combretaceae) is a large deciduous tree with spreading horizontal branches. It is found in the tropical Asia, Africa and Australia. Common names: Katbadam, Deshi badam, Bengal almond, Indian almond, Tropical almond. During winter the beautiful green leaves of terminalia catappa turn to red. Leaves are simple, 15-25 cm long and 8-15 cm wide, obcordate, alternate or whorled.  Flowers appear in the summer. Flowers are small, grey white, clustered on axillary or terminal spike. Flowers on the upper part of the inflorescence are male and those are on the lower part are bisexual.  Fruit is elliptical, 4-6 cm long, red when ripe.   The tree with nice canopy is planted in avenues and gardens as ornamental tree in Bangladesh. Propagation of the plant is caused by seeds.