Flora of Bangladesh

Modhunasini or Gurmar ( Gymnema sylvestre , family: Apocynaceae) is a woody and twining climber, covering with dense and yellow-colored hairs in young shoots and branches. The extensive plant is usually found covring the bushes or climbing a large tree in the forest, specially in the monsoon forests.  Other names: Ajaballi, Ajaghandini, karnika, Mesh-shringi. It is originated in India. It is also found in Sri Lanka and South Africa too. In Bangladesh it can be seen in medicinal gardens and botanical gardens. Tomentose leaves are ovate-elliptic, opposite, cordate at base, tip pointed, 3-6 cm long and 1.5-2 cm wide, petioled. Flowers are axillary, yellowish, tiny, campanulate, fleshy, 4 mm in diameter, peduncled. Flowering occurs in the rainy season. Fruits are slender, knife-shaped, dehiscent, 3-9 cm long. The plant is propagated by seeds, air layering and cuttings The whole plant is full of medicinal properties. It is used in jaundice, piles,...

Ramjani or Wild berry ( Maesa indica , family: Primulaceae) is a large and much-branched shrub or small tree, attaining a height about 2 m. Wood is soft, brown in color. The wild flowering species grows on fallow land as well as the deep forest of Chittagong Hill Tracts and Sylhet.  Leaves are simple, light green, alternate, elliptic-lanceolate, 6-17 cm long and 3-6 cm wide, deeply serrated, apex pointed, base rounded. Flowers are small, campanulate, scented, white but single tiny yellow mark on each petal, borne on raceme inflorescence. Flowers occur in the January-March.  Fruits are small, round, yellow in color, fleshy with several seeds. Fruiting begins from March. Propagation of the plant is caused by seeds.  Wood is used as fuel. Fruit and bark are used in fish-poison. Leaves are used in cooking somewhere.