Flora of Bangladesh

Folsha or Falsa ( Grewia asiatica , family: Tiliaceae) is a small-sized deciduous tree with short trunk and drooping branches, attaining a height of 6-7 m. Young shoots are pubescent. Bark is rough and grey in color. It is a little known tree of edible fruit in the country. The spectacular young leaves are reddish and this feature is enough to identify the tree. Other names:  Shukri, Dhamani.  It is found in village thickets as well as hilly areas of Bangladesh. It is also found in some countries of South and Southeast Asia. Leaves are heart-shaped, broadly ovate, 6-20 cm long and 8-10 cm wide, cordate at the base, dented, tip slightly elongated, alternate. Flowers are small, 2 cm in diameter, yellow-colored, in axillary clusters. Petals 5, sepals 5. Sepals are twice as large as the petals. Flowering occurs in March-April. Fruits are drupe, round, 10-12 mm across, dark purple when ripe. The taste of the fruit is basically sour, but slightl...

Daruchini or True cinnamon tree ( Cinnamomum verum , family: Lauraceae) is a medium-sized evergreen tree with profuge foliage. The tree is bushy in nature. Bark is grey and rough. It is famous for its spectacular brilliant red leaves. Strongly scented bark is used as spice.  It is cultivated widely in China, Java and Sumatra. It is found in Hill Tracts in Bangladesh as a commercial pllant. As an ornamental plant, it is also found in parks, gardens and botanical gardens in the country. It is originated from Sri Lanka. Aromatic leaves are green, glabrous, slightly hard and thin with three strong parallel nerves; ovate-lanceolate, opposite or almost opposite. Young leaves are very beautiful and these are gorgeous red in color. Flowers are very small, pale brown, borne on compound umbel. Flowering occurs at the end of winter. Fruit is Ovoid-oblong, 1.5-2 cm long, slightly fleshy, deep purple when ripen. The tree is propagated by seeds and cuttings....

Bashok or Malabar nut ( Justicia adhatoda ) is a large leafy shrub with glabrous branches, attaining a height of about 2 m. In many places it can grow up to 6 meters. It is found everywhere in Bangladesh, specially in medicine gardens of the country. Leaves are dark green, smooth, elliptic-lanceolate, 12-13 cm long and 4-5 cm wide, acute at the apex. Shiny leaves are bitter-flavored. About  Bashok , there are two words are recorded in the Ayurvedic scriptures: ‍As long as there are Bashoks in the world, the patients of cough and tuberculosis will not be disappointed. Flowers are white with purplish shade in inner petals. Calyx is 5-lobed, 75 cm long, oblong-lanceolate. Flowering occurs in the summer. Fruit is a capsule, almost 2 cm long. Seeds are round-shaped. Propagation of the plant is caused by cuttings. Semi-shady place is good for its growth. It has many names in herbal literature, e.g. Shinghamukhi, Pitaparna, Panchamukhi and Mrigendrani. ...

Keshordam or Creeping water primrose ( L udwigia adscendens , family: Onagraceae) is a floating or creeping herb with spongy bladders at the nodes. Its stems are soft and juicy. It grows on water or on the edge of water bodies along with Shapla , Shaluk , Kolmi-lota , Maloncho and other aquatic plants. Its a very common aquatic flowering plant in Bangladesh. In addition, it is found in the subcontinent and extending through South China and Malaysia to North Australia.  Other Bangla names: Malcha, Malsi, Panidoga, Diohenchi. Stems are usually smooth but when grown on the soil it will be hairy. Leaves are shinny green, broadly oblong-elliptic, glabrous, alternate, 2.5-5 cm long, apex obtuse or rounded, veins and midrib are very clear.  The flower is one of the most beautiful flowers in Bangladesh. It blooms from rainy season to late autumn. Flowers are conspicuous, white with yellow eye, petals 5, obovate; sepals 5, wide open, stamens 8. Frui...

Bokkon or   Frogfruit   ( phyla nodiflora , family: verbenaceae) is a creeper, 15-90 cm long. Stem is branched, nodes giving rise to aerial roots. The plant is is native to South America and the United States and has become naturalized in the warmer parts of the world. It grows on fallow land in Bangladesh.  Common names:  Bokkon, Frogfruit, Turkey tangle frogfruit, Capeweed Flowers are small, violet, whorled on the top of 2-7 cm long spike inflorescence. Leaves are small, sessile, obovate, front part serrate.  The plant bears flower in the nodule. For this reason, the species has been named nodiflora. In Sanskrit, it is called Vasir and Vasuka. A lar g e colony The plant is propagated by seeds, root division and cuttings.  Leaves are eaten as vegetables in rural areas to reduce pain and swelling of body. It is also used to destroy insects. Leaves are consumed as alternative to tea especially in the Philip...