Flora of Bangladesh

Shagor nishinda or Simpleleaf chastetree ( Vitex trifolia , family: Lamiceae) is a shrub or small-sized tree with profuse branches. The plant get a height up to 4 m. Stem of the deciduous plant is stout. Young shoots are reddish and pubescent.  It is found mainly in the islands and coastal regions of Cox's Bazar and Teknaf in Bangladesh. It is also found in the coasts of East Africa and South Asia. The plant is very similar to Nishinda (Vitex negundo) . Photographed in Chera-dip, Saint Martin's Islands Leaves are scented. These are usually trifoliate but sometimes single; ovate-oblong; 2.5-7 cm long, sessile; upperside green and glabrous, lowerside whitish and hairy. Terminal leaf is larger than others. Flowers are small, terminal, tomentose, purplish blue; sepals 5, petals 5. Flowering occurs throughout the year. Fruit is round, 1.5-2 cm in diameter. It get blackish or deep purple when ripen. Seeds number 4. The plant is propagated...

Sultanchapa, Punnag or  Alexandrian laurel ball tree (C alophyllum inophyllum , family: Clusiaceae) is a medium-sized evergreen tree with profuse branches, attaining a height of about 12 m. The good-looking plant is seen in the coastal areas and Sundarban in Bangladesh. Its common English name is Alexandrian laurel ball tree. Other names: Konyal, Katth-chompa. Leaves are smooth, shiny, leathery, dark green, 8-16 cm long, 6-10 cm wide, elliptic, tip rounded or obcordate (cordate at the tip); veins parallel, numerous, hardly visible.  Flowers are white, showy, fragrant, borne on axillary raceme (10-15 cm long), with many yellow stamens at centre.  It blooms in the rainy season.   The fruit is a drupe, round-shaped, 3-4 cm in diameter, yellow when ripe.  Propagation of the slow growing plant is caused by seeds and cuttings. It is grown in parks and gardens as an ornamental plant.  Different parts of he p...

Nishinda or  Five-leaved chaste tree  ( Vitex negundo , family: Lamiaceae) is a deciduous large shrub or small tree attaining a height of 2-8 m. It has a smooth light grey to brown bark. The plant is found from East Africa to Tahiti and become naturalized in South and Southeast Asia. It is grown as an ornamental plant. The plant is also grown for medicinal use. It is  found near water bodies in Bangladesh. Another Bangla name: Boro nishinda  The  purple to blue flowers,  consist of a tube with five lobes ( the central lobe is bigger than the others )  born in panicles or clusters up to 18 cm in length.    The leaves are oppositely arranged along the stems and are usually compound, composed of  3 or 5 linear leaflets, all connected at one point, 3-12 cm in length. The upper surface of the elliptic leaves are green. The lower surface is covered with white hairs. Vitex negundo is propagated by se...