Keshordam or Creeping water primrose, Ludwigia adscendens

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Keshordam or Creeping water primrose (Ludwigia adscendens, family: Onagraceae) is a floating or creeping herb with spongy bladders at the nodes. Its stems are soft and juicy. It grows on water or on the edge of water bodies along with Shapla, Shaluk, Kolmi-lota, Maloncho and other aquatic plants. Its a very common aquatic flowering plant in Bangladesh. In addition, it is found in the subcontinent and extending through South China and Malaysia to North Australia. 

Other Bangla names: Malcha, Malsi, Panidoga, Diohenchi.


Stems are usually smooth but when grown on the soil it will be hairy. Leaves are shinny green, broadly oblong-elliptic, glabrous, alternate, 2.5-5 cm long, apex obtuse or rounded, veins and midrib are very clear. 


The flower is one of the most beautiful flowers in Bangladesh. It blooms from rainy season to late autumn. Flowers are conspicuous, white with yellow eye, petals 5, obovate; sepals 5, wide open, stamens 8.


Fruit is a capsule, dehiscent, Seeds are pale brown, numerous. The plant is propagated by seeds and its floating stems.


In Bangladesh the plant is found in ponds, canals, beels and jheels along with Shapla, Kolmilota and Chadmala. It is used in epilepsy, hysteria and other neurotic and nervous diseases.

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Parul or Fragrant padri tree, Stereospermum chelonoides

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Parul or Fragrant padri tree ( Stereospermum chelonoides , family: Bignoniaceae) is a medium or large-sized deciduous tree with branches, attaining a height of 25 m. Young shoots are pubescent. Bark is grey.  About this flower, a kind of literary madness has been found for a long period of time among the Bengalees. Although it is mentioned numerous times in Bangla literature, the tree is quite difficult to find in Bangladesh.  The great news is, 5 of its trees are found in the courtyard of Bangladesh Security Printing Press School in Gajipur. India is the original home of the plant. Leaves are compound, 60 cm long; leaflets are entire, 5-11, deep green, glabrous, petioled, elliptic-oblong, 10-15 cm long and 3-6 cm wide, apex acuminate. Flowers are sweet-scented, purplish, yellow at center, campunulate, 3-5 cm long, curved at the base and bronze in color, on terminal panicle; corolla tubular with short petals, petals 5. Flower buds are black and deep p
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Guloncho, Heart-leaved moonseed, Tinospora cordifolia

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Guloncho or Heart-leaved moonseed ( Tinospora cordifolia , family: Menispermaceae) is a deciduous creeper with hard and long stem, climbing other trees or fences. Bark on the stem is as thin as paper. Aerial roots come out of the stem when the plant grows older. The plant is found everywhere in Bangladesh except southern part. It is also native to South and Southeast Asia.  Common names: Heart-leaved moonseed, Guduchi, Giloy, Guloncho, Guroncho, Padma guloncho. Leaves are simple, green, alternate, cordate, 6-15 cm long and 5-13 cm wide.  Inflorescence, growing from the axil of leaflet branches, bears yellow flowers. Male and female flowers bloom separately. Sepals 6, arranged in two rows, petal 6, pistils 3. Fruit is a drupe, brilliant red when ripe. This attractive fruit is inedible to human.                                                            What an extensive climber! Tinospora cordifolia is used in weakness, tastelessness, rheumatis
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Makal or Mahakal, Trichosanthes tricuspidata

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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
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