Flora of Bangladesh

Rubber bot or Indian rubber ( Ficus elastica , family: Moraceae) is a medium or large evergreen tree with aerial prop roots grow from its branches. The fig tree with milky latex in its leaves and shoots can get a height of more than 30 meters. The trunk is smooth, black-colored and has very tiny whitish spots. This tree is well-known as an ornamental plant. In Bangladesh, it is found on roadside area or the edge of forest and in parks and gardens. The beautiful tree is native to South and Southeast Asia. Leaves are spectacular, simple, big, leathery, deep green, sometimes deep purplish, shiny and smooth, elliptic-ovate, 12-30 cm long and 5-12 cm wide, petioled, alternate, acuminate at the top. Florets remain inside the fruit or fig which cannot be seen from outside. Fruiting occurs in the late spring. Fruits develop in the nodes of  the Fruits. They usually round, sometimes slender in shape. Mature fruits are yellow or red in color. The plant is propagate...

Shal or Sal ( Shorea robusta , family: Dipterocarpaceae) is a large and deciduous robust tree with straight trunk and few branches at the top, usually 20-40 m high. Wood is reddish brown. The tree is found in Gazipur, Tangail, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Dinajpur, Rongpur and Comilla in Bangladesh. Leaves are simple, alternate, glossy green, leathery, ovate-oblong with pointed apex, base rounded or cordate, 15-20 cm and 5-10 cm wide; petioles 2 cm. long. Flowers are very small, petals 5, yellowish orange, soft and hairy, borne on large panicle. Flowers blooms in March-April. Fruit is brown-colored nut with 5 unequal linear wings, 5-7 cm long. propagated by fresh seeds and also from newly grown seedlings those grown from the base of the tree. For this reason, Shal is also called Gojari. Shal is a commercial timber tree in Bangladesh. Its timber is robust and used as pole, boat, railway sleeper, furniture. Burning leaves produce a kind of aroma. So cigar can be made f...

Madhobi-lota or Madhabi ( Hiptage benghalensis , family: Malpighiaceae) is a large climbing shrub with woody stem and extensive branches. The perennial leafy climber can climb up to 5 m. In Bangla literary works, the vigorous climber is very famous for its sweet-scented flowers. The deciduous climber is  found in the hilly areas of Bangladesh. Although it is rare in its original habitat, it has become popular to the gardeners of the country recently. Flower blooms in large bunches in the spring. Blooming period is very shortened, lasts only for 2 weeks.  Leaves are glossy green, petioled, elliptic, 10-15 cm long, opposite, leathery.     Flowers are strong scented, white to light yellow, 3 cm long, on axillary panicles, silky outside, pale yellow inside. Sepals 5; petals 5, four of them are equal in length and white in color, the rest one is smaller and its color is yellow. Stamens 10, one is bigger.   Dry fruits are ...

Kew or Crepe ginger ( Cheilocostus speciosus , family: Zingiberaceae) is a rhizomatous annual or perennial shrub, attaining a height of 2 to 4 m, with clump-forming stems. It is found almost everywhere in Bangladesh. It usually grows well in damp places. The plant itself a beautiful one. The gardeners of the country cultivate this plant for its clean white large flowers. Other names : Kustha, Kiumool, Bondugi, Kura, Kedogi (Chakma). Leaves are stalkless, downy, entire, big in size (18-24 cm), leathery, ovate-elliptical, about 10-20 cm long. Flowers are short-lived, very showy, trumpet-shaped, pure white in color, and have round yellow mark in the centre. Each flower is half-covered by brilliant red bract. The flowers begin to blossom at the end of the monsoon.  Fruit is a capsule. Mature or dry fruits are brown or reddish. Propagation of the good-looking plant is caused by seed or division of rhizomes.  Stem is used in heart disease, lep...