Flora of Bangladesh

Kajuput or Weeping paperbark ( Melaleuca leucadendra , family: Myrtaceae) is a medium-sized evergreen tree with narrow and drooping branches, up to 30 m. in height. Bark is thick and white and it has papery scales all over its body. It relieves papery scales all the year round. The beautiful tree is native to Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea & Australia. The exotic tree is planted in Parks and botanical gardens in Bangladesh.   Leaves are linear, lanceolate, light green, 10-15 cm long & 1-2 cm wide. Flowers are borne in spike florescence, florets are small, sessile, creamy white, 8-15 cm long. Flowers bloom in June-July. Fruit is capsule with thin skin. Seeds numerous.  The flowers and fruits are very much like a Bottlebrush . Propagation is by seeds and cuttings. It is difficult to collect seedlings from the sown seeds; it probably needs the help of a special fungus. Its bark's juice is used as germicide. Oil made fr...

Bilombi or   Cucumber tree   (A verrhoa bilimbi , family: Oxalidaceae) is a fruit-bearing small tree with short trunk and profuse branches, attaining a height of 5-10 m. This beautiful tree is native to Moluccas, Indonesia (possibly) and now cultivated throughout the tropical Asia.  Common names: Bilombi, Bilimbi, Bilombu (Bang), Cucumber tree (Eng). Flowers are small, inter-mixed with purple and white and borne on the old stem. Calyx is rust colored. Flower blooms mainly in March-April.                               Leaves are light green and compound. Leaflet is lanceolate with sharp end, 3-6 cm long,  alternate.  Fruit is fleshy and cylindrical, 4-11 cm long. The ripe fruit is yellowish green. Averrhoa bilimbi is found all over Bangladesh as a homestead plant. Propagation of the plant is caused by seeds.  Fruit contains vitamin C, potassi...