Boronukha or Leaf pondweed, monochoria hastata

-
Boronukha or Leaf pondweed (monochoria hastata, family: pontederiaceae) is a water herb attaining a height of 1.5 m. It is found in ponds, diches, canals and other water bodies of South and Southeast Asia and Australia.


Common names: Boronukha, Leaf pondweed, Arrowleaf falsepickerelweed, Arrow leaf pondweed, arrow-leaf monochoria.


Leaves of the aquatic plant come out from stem. They are cordate or triangular, green, glabrous, apex acute, petiole long and linear.


Clusters of blue flowers (20- 55) grow from leaf axil. Petals 5. Flower blooms mainly in autumn.


The fruit is a capsule, 5-7 mm long, and 4-7 mm wide. It can be planted as an ornamental water plant in garden or park.


In Bangladesh, the plant is seen throughout the water bodies of rural areas along with Lotus and Water lilies. Its root is used in tooth pain and bark in asthma. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Week Star

Shimul or Red silk-cotton, Bombax ceiba

-
Image
Shimul or  Red silk-cotton   ( Bombax ceiba , family: Malvaceae) is one of the most common trees that found in Bangladesh. This deciduous straight tall tree with thorny trunk and spreading crown is also found in tropical regions of Asia. In Bangladesh, the tree is planted in parks and on highways and beside national monuments for its gorgeous fire-red flowers. It can reach a height up to 60 m. Common names: Shimul, Red silk-cotton, Red cotton tree. Leaves are large, spreading, glabrous, digitate, leaflets lanceolate, entire, 10-15 cm long; petiole is up to 20 cm long.  It blooms in spring (March-April).  Flowers red, numerous, appearing when the tree is bare of leaves, stamens numerous arranged in five outer bundles and one middle bundle.  Fruit capsules, woody valves. 10-13 cm in length. Seeds smooth, black or grey embedded in long white wool. Oh! the flame of the forest! Young plant is used in dysentery, cough, plethora, malnutrition and sexu
Read more

Til or Sesame, Sesamum indicum

-
Image
Til or Sesame ( Sesamum indicum , family: Pedaliaceae) is an annual herb with hollow stem and branches attaining a height of 50 to 100 cm.  Sesame or Til seed is one of the oldest oil-seed  crops  o f t h e w o r l d.  The plant is originated in Africa. It is cultivated as crop throughout the tropical world.  Leaves are  opposite,  broad lanceolate,   dark green,  4- 14 cm long with an entire margin .  Flower is hairy, white or light pink, borne on leaf axil;  3-5 cm long with a four-lobed mouth. In Bangladesh, i t blooms generally in April-May.                Sesame fruit is a  rectangular capsule, 2-7 cm long, covered with tiny soft hair . Tiler khaja, a type of sweetened food made from sesame seed is very popular in Bangladesh.  Propagation of the plant is caused by seeds. Seeds are usually  off-white in c o l o r.  Sesame is energizing, carminative and diuretic. It increases breast milk and sperms in male. It has been found useful in dyspepsia a
Read more

Makal or Mahakal, Trichosanthes tricuspidata

-
Image
Makal or Mahakal ( Trichosanthes tricuspidata , family: Cucurbitaceae) is a woody climber with tendril and branches, attaining a height of 10-12 m. The multiangular-branched plant climbs up very far by holding any tree in the forest. It is found in the hilly areas as well as plain forests and village thickets in Bangladesh. It is also found in Indian subcontinent, Australia and some countries of South and Southeast Asia.  According to ancient Sanskrit scriptures the other names of the plant are Bishala, Mohendro-baruni.  In the Himalayas it has been seen at an altitude of 5000 feet. There are many refferences to the fruit in Bangla and Sanskrit literature. Someone is very nice to look at but he/she is useless--writers usually jokingly give examples of this fruit. Its roots and attractive fruits are packed with medicinal properties.  The size and shape of leaves may vary. These are multilobed or trilobed, alternate, rough in both sides, 5-12 cm long, petioled, cor
Read more