Flora of Bangladesh

Shojna or Drumstick tree ( Moringa oleifera , family: Moringaceae ) is a fast-growing deciduous, medium-sized tree, native to the South Asia, attaining a height of 10-12 m. The tree with whitish-grey corky bark and soft wood is drought-resistant and is very common in Bangladesh.  Common names:  Drumstick tree, Horseradish tree, Ben oil tree, Benzoil tree. Leaves are 30-60 cm long, tripinnate; leaflets 4-7 pairs, ovate or elliptic, 1-2 cm long, entire alternate. Fragrant and bisexual flowers are greenish-white, on axillary inflorescence. Sepal 5. petals 5. stamens 5. pistils 3.  Flower blooms mainly in January-February.  Fruit is capsule, 20-45 cm long, with triangular seeds.  The plant is propagated by big cuttings. The pods are used as vegetables in Indian subcontinent.  Its flowers, fruits and leaves are used in high blood pressure, tumor, fever, hiccup, piles, eye and  gum diseases, constipation, co...

Shimul or  Red silk-cotton   ( Bombax ceiba , family: Malvaceae) is one of the most common trees that found in Bangladesh. This deciduous straight tall tree with thorny trunk and spreading crown is also found in tropical regions of Asia. In Bangladesh, the tree is planted in parks and on highways and beside national monuments for its gorgeous fire-red flowers. It can reach a height up to 60 m. Common names: Shimul, Red silk-cotton, Red cotton tree. Leaves are large, spreading, glabrous, digitate, leaflets lanceolate, entire, 10-15 cm long; petiole is up to 20 cm long.  It blooms in spring (March-April).  Flowers red, numerous, appearing when the tree is bare of leaves, stamens numerous arranged in five outer bundles and one middle bundle.  Fruit capsules, woody valves. 10-13 cm in length. Seeds smooth, black or grey embedded in long white wool. Oh! the flame of the forest! Young plant is used in dysentery, cough, plethor...