Flora of Bangladesh

Choto betmara or Choto birmal a ( Calliandra umbrosa , family: Mimosaceae) is a small-sized deciduous tree with narrow and drooping branches, attaining a height of 3 m. It is found at the foot hills and near streams in Chattogram and Chattogram Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. It is also found in Eastern India, Myanmar, China as well as few countries of Southeast Asia. Leaves are large, elliptic-oblong, glabrous, slighty leathery, 3-14 cm long and 3-5 cm, sessile, apex acute or blunted. Pinnae 2, each has 2 leaves but sometimes a smaller one may be present. Stipules 2, tiny. Flowers are usually in globose head, axillary or on old wood, small, white, with numerous stames like other members of Calliandra genus; filaments white. Female and male flowers look similar. It blooms in the rainy season to autumn. [Pure-shaped (Calliandra-looking) flowers were not found due to rain] Fruit is pod, flattened, dark brown, 8-15 cm long and 2-3 cm wide, dehiscent. Seeds 4. When wood is burned, it gives off...

Daruchini or True cinnamon tree ( Cinnamomum verum , family: Lauraceae) is a medium-sized evergreen tree with profuge foliage. The tree is bushy in nature. Bark is grey and rough. It is famous for its spectacular brilliant red leaves. Strongly scented bark is used as spice.  It is cultivated widely in China, Java and Sumatra. It is found in Hill Tracts in Bangladesh as a commercial pllant. As an ornamental plant, it is also found in parks, gardens and botanical gardens in the country. It is originated from Sri Lanka. Aromatic leaves are green, glabrous, slightly hard and thin with three strong parallel nerves; ovate-lanceolate, opposite or almost opposite. Young leaves are very beautiful and these are gorgeous red in color. Flowers are very small, pale brown, borne on compound umbel. Flowering occurs at the end of winter. Fruit is Ovoid-oblong, 1.5-2 cm long, slightly fleshy, deep purple when ripen. The tree is propagated by seeds and cuttings....

Boga or White tephrosia ( Tephrosia candida , Fabaceae) is an erect shrub with branches attaining a height of 4 m. Upright branches grow from the stem base. Woody stem is velvety, greyish. In Bangladesh, it is found in the tea gardens of Moulovibazar and in parks and botanical gardens.  Other names:   Medla, Bogui. Leaves are pale green, compound, pinnate; leaflets 9-11 pairs, opposite. Flowers are borne in terminal or axillary Inflorescences, 20-40 cm long. Flowers are are brilliant white, sometimes yellow or pink; petals clawed, round, wings ovate, sightly adnate, 2-2.5 cm long and 1 cm wide. Calix is bell-shaped. Flowering season is autumn. The species name 'Candida' is kept due to its pure white-colored flowers. Fruits are like beans, linear, covered with brown hair, 8-15 cm long and 1 cm wide; dehiscent, 8-15-seeded. Flowers and fruits can be seen at a time. Propagation is caused by seeds. Leaves are used for relief from cough and as...

Boro bet or Osier-like rattan palm ( Calamaus viminalis , family: Araceae) is a clump forming spiny large creeper, occasionally takes the form of bushes. Spines are flat and very long. By the support of other plants it climbs. Stem is slender, like most of the canes; brownish and covered with thorny sheath.  It is found mainly in the hill slopes of Chottogram, Chottogram Hill Tracts and Sylhet. It is also found in the Sal forests of Bangladesh. It has spiny climbing stem or tendrils to climb on; that will be 2-3 m long. Leaf sheath whitish green, pubescent, densely covered with hook-like stout spines. Rachis 1-2 m long. Leaflets are green, lanceolate, 30-55 in per side, alternate. In Sal forest of Gajipur Inflorescence is very long, 2-3 m, flagellate. Male and female flowers are borne in different inflorescence; female is shorter than male. Fruits appear in cluster; berry, usually globose, yellowish or whitish, almost 1 cm in diameter, pointed ...

Korpur or Camphor ( Cinnamomum camphora, family: ‎Lauraceae) is an evergreen small or medium-sized aromatic tree from cinnamomum family, up to 10 to 15 m high with profuse branches. Trunk is short. Its bark is blackish and rough. Camphor, which is volatile and has a strong aroma, extracted from its bark and wood.  Its original home is China, Japan and Malay. In Bangladesh it is found in Sylhet area. As an ornamental tree, it is also found in the parks and botanical gardens in the country.  Leaves are small, elliptic-ovate, entire, veins and midrib are very clear; glabrous, alternate, bearing scent of camphor. Flowers are brownish white, borne on axillary inflorescence. Female flowers are the bigger than males. Petals 6, arranged in two rows.  Flower buds with the young shoots are derived from a kind of mound, which is unusual to floral kingdom. Flower blooms in February-March. Fruit is a berry. The plant is propagated by seeds and ...

Chondromala, Kumudini or Crested floating-heart ( Nymphoides cristatum , family: Menyanthaceae) is an aquatic flowering plant with long branches. The branches of the floating herb reach the surface of the water. Roots grow from nodes. Other names: Pan shiuli, Pan-shimli, Chandmala, Panjuli.  It is a common aquatic plant of Bangladesh and found throughout the country's beel-jheel, canal and pond along with Water spinach , Keshordam (Creeping water primrose), Bladderwort and Alligator weed . It is also found in India, China and some countries of Southeast Asia.     Leaves are simple, orbicular, deeply cordate, purplish at the edge, veins are green and spread like nets. The sepals is not adjacent to the petals, almost divided. Flowers are white with yellow centre, petals 5, adjacent, glabrous. Each lobe has a crest down the middle of each lobe. Fruit is a capsule, broadly ovoid, subglobose. Seeds 10-20, pale yellowish brown. 

Shohosro-beli or Chinese Glory Bower ( Clerodendrum chinense , family: Verbenaceae) is a perennial shrub with quadrangular stem, attaining a height of 1-1.5 m. Usually, many plants of the species are seen together in wilderness in Bangladesh. As an ornamental plant it is planted in parks and gardens in the country.  Leaves are large and thin, 10-15 cm long and 7-12 cm wide, ovate-cordate, light green, hairy, deeply serrated, long petioled. Lower side of the leaf is light brown with red shade.  Summer and Rainy seasons are the flowering time of this evergreen shrub. Flowers are clustered on round head at the end of branches. Flowers are white with pink shade, multipetaled, sweet-scented, 2.5 cm across.  Flowers are very much like Beli (Arabian jasmine, Jasminum sambac ). The fragrance of the flowers are very much like that flower too. That’s why the Bangla name of the plant is Hajar-beli.  It is believed that the original home of the...

Daruhoridra or Narrow-leaf morinda ( Morinda angustifolia , family: Rubiaceae) is a shrub or small tree with soft branches attaining a height of 2 to 6 m. The evergreen plant is mostly found in the Shal forests, the Sundarbans and in coastal areas. It is also planted in the garden and parks.  Indian subcontinent and China are its original home. Leaves are dark green, lanceolate, dented, 10-30 cm long and 4-5 cm wide, tip pointed. Flowers are showy, pure white, scented, tubular in the lower part, clustered on head inflorescence. Sepals 5, petals 5. flowering occurs throughout the year. Fruits are very peculiar, composite. Each fruit seems to have one eye! The fruits become purplish when ripe. Propagation of the plant is caused by cutting and seed.  The plant has medicinal quality and used in asthma, common cold, vomiting and dysentery. It is also used to cure wound and regain energy. Bark and root are used in urinal problems. A kind of yell...

Sthol-padma  or  Confederate   rose  ( Hibiscus mutabilis , family: Malvaceae) is a wonderful Perennial hibiscus that comes from China. The deciduous plant is introduced to Bangladesh as well as Indian sub-continent and USA. This fast growing woody shrub can grow up to 3 meter tall.  Common Name: Sthol-padma , Sthalkamal , Confed erate rose, Dixie rosemallow , Cotton rosemallow . Leaves are simple, alternate, deeply cordate, 3-5 lobed, 8-15 cm long, hairy on both surfaces, petiole long.  Flower blooms in September-December. Propagation is caused by cutting and air layering. The flowers of hibiscus mutabilis are large or small, double or single, 9-18cm in across. white, red or pink. It is called 'changeable rose' as it changes color with the change of time. Leaves and flowers of the plant are are used in piles, abortion and urinary problem. Extract of root is used in menstrual problem.