Flora of Bangladesh

Shalu kocu or Shola kochu ( Alocasia fornicata , family: Araceae) is an erect perinnial herb with rhizome and stolon, attaining a height of 1 to 1.5 m. Stolon grows horizontally. Roots are whitish. It is found everywhere, specially in ditch and damp places in Bangladesh along with Pipul ( Piper longum ), Bhat ( Clerodendrum viscosum ), Asam lota, ( Mikania micrantha ) and other species of ferns. It is also found in South and Southeast Asia. All parts of the plant is eaten as vegetable in the country.  Leaves are broad, thin, triangular, pale but deep green, glabrous, shiny, 30-40 cm long, bottom part cut apart. Petiole is thick and almost as long as the total height of the plant, 40-45 cm. Like other members of the genus Alocasia, new leaves develop slowly from its wrapped state. New leaves are spectacular. Numerous small and yellow-colored flowers are clustered on spadix inflorescence, covered with eye-catching white-colored spathe. In the initial stage the inflorescence is full...

Kochu or Taro ( Colocasia esculenta , family: Araceae) is a perennial aquatic herb with stolon and rhizome, attaining a height of 1.5 m. It is found by water or standing in water. The fast-growing plant is found almost everywhere in Bangladesh. Although it is originated mainly in Southeast Asia, it has gradually become naturalized in the tropical world. It is one the oldest cultivated crops in Asia. The whole part of the plant, like leaf, stem, petiole, rhizome, stolon--everything can be eaten as vegetable. Other names: Mukhi kochu, Gura kochu, Kuri kochu, Chhora kochu, Duli kochu, Binni kochu. Leaves are showy, large, green, glabrous, triangular-ovate, 30-40 cm long and 20-26 cm wide. Petiole is thick and juicy and it can be almost equal to the height of the plant. New leaves grow from the rhizome. Neumerous small flowers are clustered on spadix inflorescence, covered with giant bract leaf, spathe; the spadix is three-fifths of the spathe. In initial stage the inflorescence is full...

Shotomuli or Shatawari (Asparagus racemosus , family: Asparagaceae) Is a perennial creeping shrub with numerous branches. The spectacular bushy and extensive shrub is thorny. Sometimes thorne is about 1-3 cm long. It can extend far beyond by holding something. The plant has a large number of whitish tubers. For this reason in Bangla, it is called as Shotomuli (the plant of numerous roots).   Other names:  Bohumula, Keshika, Shoto-netrika, Tejbolli, Modhura, Climbing asparagus (Eng). It is a renowned herbal plant of Indian subcontinent. This is much appreciated in ancient Ayurveda. It is found mainly in the Sal forest of Modhupur and the Swamp forest of Ratargul, Sylhet in Bangladesh. It is also found in India and Sri Lanka. Leaves are bright green, linear, those are called cladophyll. Cladophyll is leaf-like tiny branches. During the winter all its leaves fall off. Raceme inflorescence bears many small and whitish flowers. Petals 5. Floweri...

Nolkhagra or  Tropical reed ( Phragmites karka , family: Poaceae) is a perennial tall grass attaining a height of 2-4 m. Stem is with nodes and leaf arises from each node. The plant is found along with Kaash , beside river, canal, bell-jheel, pond and dich in Bangladesh. Leaves are large, about 20-35 cm long, narrow, deep green in color. Flowers are creamy white, small and clustered, which are largely divided. Flowering occurs in rainy season. The plant is propagated by seeds and rhizome. Leaves are used as food for livestock. A kind of mat is made from the leaves too. The stem is used for fencing. Ancient Romans were used its stem as pen. The plant is a perfect sanctuary of fish, birds and snakes. It is a plant of herbal quality. It is antiseptic, antineuralgic, diuretic and depurative. It is used to treat bone breaking and breathing problems. In heavy dose it is toxic and narcotic. The water-friendly tall grass is beautiful to look at. It can be...

Panikola or Duck lettuce ( Ottelia alismoides, family: Hydrocharitaceae) is an annual submerged herb grows in the paddy fields and at the edge of water bodies. The short-stemmed aquatic plant prefers shallow water bodies and can survive in strong light. Its roots along with rhizome are ingrained in soil. It is found in the tropical and subtropical Asia, Africa and Australia. Other Bangla names              Ram korola, Kaobali, Torukola, Shyamkola, Kuchkolai, Jol-kolosh, Pani-kolosh, Jol-kola. Leaves grow up with the rise in water level. Size and shape of the leaves are different. They are usually oblong-cordate, slightly clear, fragile, edge undulate. The size of the petiole depends on the level of water too. It generally gets a length of 10-20 cm. Peduncle comes out from the rhizome.  The flower is covered with green spathes in early stage. Mature flower stands erectly on the water. Flower is white or light violet. S...

Allugash ( Mantisia radicalis , family: Scitamineae) is a perennial rhizomatous herb. Its aerial stem becomes about 60 cm long.  It is a rock plant, occasionally found in Chittagong, Rangamati and Sylhet of the country. It is found abundantly in the Lawachhora forest in Moulvibazar.  Leaves are ovate-oblong, 10-12 cm long and 3-5 cm wide, apex acuminate.  Flowers are yellow, borne on 20-45 cm long inflorescence. There are three bluish violet long glabrous sheaths. Calyx is divided into three parts. Corolla 2 cm long, upper part divided into three parts. Stigma has wings. Stamen is bluish-violet, 2.2 cm long.  Fruit is white or red, smooth, hexagonal, 10-13 mm long and 8-12 mm wide.  The plant is propagated by the division of rhizome. It is used in cough, asthma and rheumatic fever.

Kew or Crepe ginger ( Cheilocostus speciosus , family: Zingiberaceae) is a rhizomatous annual or perennial shrub, attaining a height of 2 to 4 m, with clump-forming stems. It is found almost everywhere in Bangladesh. It usually grows well in damp places. The plant itself a beautiful one. The gardeners of the country cultivate this plant for its clean white large flowers. Other names : Kustha, Kiumool, Bondugi, Kura, Kedogi (Chakma). Leaves are stalkless, downy, entire, big in size (18-24 cm), leathery, ovate-elliptical, about 10-20 cm long. Flowers are short-lived, very showy, trumpet-shaped, pure white in color, and have round yellow mark in the centre. Each flower is half-covered by brilliant red bract. The flowers begin to blossom at the end of the monsoon.  Fruit is a capsule. Mature or dry fruits are brown or reddish. Propagation of the good-looking plant is caused by seed or division of rhizomes.  Stem is used in heart disease, lep...

Sotthi or  Zedoary ( Curcuma zedoaria , family: Zingiberaceae) is a perennial herb with underground tubers. It is the closest relative of Turmeric. Needless to say, the characteristics of the two are almost the same. The underground tuber or rhizome is Camphor -scented and white-colored, spreading like Ginger or Turmeric. It is native to South and Southeast Asia. It is found in the rural area, Sal forests and the foothills of hilly areas in Bangladesh.     Other names: Shoti, Shuvodra, Shoumya, Polashika, Shugondhomula (Bang); White turmeric (Eng). Leaves arise from the tubers. Leaves are glabrous, about1 m long, narrow at the petiole. Flower blooms in spring-summer. At this time, when it rains a little, a fairy, quite long receptacle (inflorescence stick; about 50 cm long) come out from the rhizome. The bracts in receptacle are purplish and greenish. Although the whole receptacle looks like a flower, the flowers are actually quite small, bloom in the lap...

Padma or Poddo , ( Nelumbo nucifera , family: Nymphaeceae) is a large and erect aquatic perennial, found in the water bodies of rural area of Bangladesh. The plant is also native to Tropical Asia. Padma is the national flower of India and Vietnam. Common names: Padma, Poddo, Lotus, Indian lotus, Sacred lotus. Petiole comes out from rhizome. Petiole is 75-100 cm long. Leaves are big, round, 40-45 cm long, bluish green.  Flower is big, pink or white, scented. Fully bloomed flower is 15-20 cm across. Sepals 4-5, ovate-elliptical, persistent. Petals many, 4-15 cm long, elliptical. Numerous stamens surround pistil at the center of flower.  It blooms mainly in the rainy season.  Leaves and flowers are used in strangury, blood dysentery, bilious dysentery, vomiting and worm.  Leaves and flowers float on water.  A kind of alkaloid is collected from petiole and it is used in fever, liver and heart diseases. Young leaves, p...

Ulot-chondal or Flame lily ( Gloriosa superba , family: Liliaceae) is an annual creeper with soft and slender stem, climbing bushes in wilderness. It is native to much of Africa and Asia. The creeper gives one of the most beautiful and exceptional flowers in the liliaceae family.  The plant is propagated by rhizome or seed. It is a good ornamental plant and can be grown on pot.  In Bangladesh, it is planted as an ornamental plant in garden and parks. In Bangla it is also called Ognishikha.                                                                   Common names:  Flame lily, Glory lily, Fire lily. The flower-bud Leaves are simple, sessile, glabrous, alternate, ovate-lanceolate, 6-10 cm long and 1-3 cm wide, venation parallel. A blooming flower is 8-9 cm across ...