Flora of Bangladesh

Motmotia or  Bushy lippia  ( Lippia alba , family: Verbenaceae)  is a perennial multi-branched shrub with creeping nature, up to 2 m high. There is a strong odor all over its body. Stem is weak and can be broken easily. The beautiful plant is originated in the tropics of North America and gradually spreads to other tropical regions. In Bangladesh it mainly grows in wetland, especially in fallow land and  roadside area.    Common names :  Bon pudina, Motka, Bakkan, Bhui okra. Leaves are strong-scented, light green, lanceolate, about 6-10 cm long and 3-4 cm wide, serrated, opposite.  Inflorescence is borne at the axil of leaf with light pink flowers. Flowers of the outer edge of inflorescence bloom first, followed by the middle ones. It blooms round the year. Propagation of the plant is caused by cuttings or division of root stalk.  Different parts of the plant are used as stomachic, analgesic, diuretic and e...

Chandmala or Water snowflake (N ymphoides indica , family: Menyanthaceae) is a fast growing floating aquatic plant. The root of the plant arises from the clay. This mother-plant expands through the roots that grow from stem-nodes. And by this the floating plant can make its length up to 3 meters. They seem to be a colony from a distance. In the colonies, when they begin to bloom, they look like stars. In Bangla, the plant is called Chandmala or Chondromala (group of stars) for this reason. Other name: Boro chandmala Heart-shaped floating leaves are simple, shinny green, wavy-edged, 3-10 cm wide; petioled, almost 4 cm long. Flowers are small, white in color with yellow mark at the centre. Petals are quite exceptional, 5-7, with fringe. Flower blooms in rainy season to late outumn. They are short-lived. They can survive only a day. Fruit is globose with many bright yellow seeds. The propagation of the plant is caused by seeds. It is found in shallow and waterlogged ar...

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...

Muktajhuri or   Indian acalypha   ( Acalypha indica , family: Euphorbiaceae) is an annual herb attaining a height of below 1 m. It is found in Tropical Africa, South and Southeast Asia.     Common names: Muktajhuri, Indian acalypha, Three-seeded mercury. Leaves are green, oval-shaped, serrated with hairs. Pedicel is 2.5-4 cm long. Flowers are very small, greenish in color, embedded in round bract.  Flower and fruit appear almost round the year.  Seeds are small and round. In Bangladesh, it is found in fallow land and road.  Propagation of the plant is caused by seeds.

Sotthi or  Zedoary ( Curcuma zedoaria , family: Zingiberaceae) is a perennial herb with underground tubers. It is the closest relative of Turmeric. Needless to say, the characteristics of the two are almost the same. The underground tuber or rhizome is Camphor -scented and white-colored, spreading like Ginger or Turmeric. It is native to South and Southeast Asia. It is found in the rural area, Sal forests and the foothills of hilly areas in Bangladesh.     Other names: Shoti, Shuvodra, Shoumya, Polashika, Shugondhomula (Bang); White turmeric (Eng). Leaves arise from the tubers. Leaves are glabrous, about1 m long, narrow at the petiole. Flower blooms in spring-summer. At this time, when it rains a little, a fairy, quite long receptacle (inflorescence stick; about 50 cm long) come out from the rhizome. The bracts in receptacle are purplish and greenish. Although the whole receptacle looks like a flower, the flowers are actually quite small, bloom in the lap...

Holud hurhuri  or Asian spider flower ( Cleome viscosa , family: Cleomaceae) is a small-sized annual herb with branches, up to 1 mm in height. The herb is native to tropical Africa, tropical Australia, Malaysia and South Arabia. It has become introduced in South Asia.  Common names: Holud hurhuri,  Asian spider flower, Dog mustard, Yellow Spider Flower, Wild mustard, Sticky cleome. Leaves are palmately compound, leaflets 3-5, odorous, glandular, hairy, viscose, elliptical-ovate, 1-4 cm long. Flowers are pale yellow, on axillary raceme. Sepals 4, 3-6 mm long, hairy and glandular, petals 4 and 8-15 mm long, stamens numerous and 4-8 mm long.  The plant produces flower from January t o  June.  Fruit is 4-7 mm long, viscose and hairy; seed dark brown to black. Leaves are used in paratyphoid, dysentery, bronchitis, gonorrhea, ear-sore and  external application to wounds and ulcers. The seeds are anthelmintic and carminative...

Jilapi Babul or Blackbeed tree ( Pithecellobium dulce , family: Leguminosae ) is a medium-sized evergreen tree with pofused branches and spreading crown.  The tree can reach a height of 10-15 m. Trunk is spiny. Bark is grey.  The tree is native to Americas. It is introduced to South and Southeast Asia.  Common names: Khoia babla, Jilapi babul,  Jilapi,  Dokkhini babul, Blackbeed tree, Manila tamarind. Leaves are bipinnate, each pinna has a single pair of ovate-oblong leaflets. Young leaves are brownish.  In Bangladesh  flower blooms in spring, They are small, fragrant, greenish-white, 1 cm in diameter, borne in globose head.  The edible fruit is a pod, 10-15 cm long. When ripe (in summer) it turns tightly-coiled shape and reddish-brown in color and this is the main characteristic of the tree.  Fruit tastes sweet and sour.  Seeds are shiny, black in color.  Leaves and raw fruits are used as...

Champa or champaca (M agnolia champaca , family: Magnoliaceae) is a medium or large-sized evergreen tree with silky young shoot, grows to 50 m or taller. It is very popular in Bangladesh and India, especially in the Great Bengal area. This beautiful fragrant flowering tree is also native to South and Southeast Asia. Leaves are simple, lanceolate, light green, smooth and shiny above; 16-25 cm long and 5 cm wide. The petiole is about 2.5 cm long.  Strongly scented flowers are solitary, showy, pale yellow or golden, 3-7 cm across. Petals 15, free, acute at the end. Blooming season is summer (April-May) and it continues up to June-July.  Propagation is caused by seeds. A bunch of fruits rise from single stick. Seeds are dark brown or blackish red.  Flower, fruit and leaf are used for skin diseases, round worms and snake bites. Decoction of leaves is analgesic and diaphoretic. A rare variety of white color magnolia champaca is also found in Bangl...

Shirish or Lebbek tree ( Albizia lebbeck , family: Fabaceae) is a large deciduous tree with spreading crown, attaining a height of 15-20 m. The black bark tree is native to Bangladesh as well as Southeast Asia and Australia. Common names: Shirish, Siris, Kalo koroi, Lebbek tree, Frywood. Leaves bipinnate with a large gland on the base of petiole, pinnae 2-5 pairs. Leaflets 2.5-4 cm long and 1.5-2 cm wide, ovate, oblong, pale green.  Flowers bloom in April-June.  Flowers are  very  fragrant,  greenish white, heads globose, containing many flowers. Stamens are longer than petals and sepals. The fruit is a legume, 12-30 cm long and 2-5 cm wide. It contains 6-12 seeds. Propagation of the plant is caused by seeds.  Albizia lebbeck is a  good timber tree, fast growing and suitable for a forestation.  Bark prevents skin diseases and leaf night blindness. It is also useful in tuberculosis, diarrhea and leprosy.

Ghora-neem or China berry tree ( Melia azedarach , family: Meliaceae) is a medium-sized deciduous tree from the family of Neem ( azadirachta indica ). New shoots come out from mutilated bare trunk. This blackish barked tree is native to South and Southeast Asia and Australia. This short-living but fast growing tree abounds in Bangladesh, especially in the northern region.  Common names: Ghora-neem, Bokain, Moha-neem, China berry tree, White cedar, Cape lilac, Persian lilac Flowers are small and lilac in color. Plethora of flowers bloom on axillary inflorescence. The number of sepals and petals in a flower is 5.  Fruit a drupe, globose, dry fruits are brown in color. Propagation of plant is caused by seeds. Leaves are dark green, compound, ovate-lanceolate and serrate.  Flowers are fragrant and bloom in the summer in Bangladesh. It is a good herbal plant. Branch, leaf and bark are used as medicine to relieve tooth and g...