Flora of Bangladesh

Krishnachura or Royal poinciana ( Delonix regia , family: Fabaceae) is a large deciduous ornamental tree with spreading crownn. It is one of the most spectacular flowering trees in the tropicular world. When the blooming begins, a miraculous beauty is reflected throughout the tree.  Other names:   Peacock flower tree, Flamboyant, Flame of the forest, Flame tree. It is planted in gardens and parks and beside the roads and highways. In fact, it is planted everywhere in Bangladesh. Its original home is Madagascar. The tree is brought to the country from Mauritius in 1812, perhaps through Christian missionary. In India, it is called 'Gulmohar' (Golden seal). Leaves are beautiful. Those are bipinnate, large, about 1 m long, pinnae 11-18 pairs, leaflets up to 20, tiny, 1 cm long. Flower arise in broad erect clusters at the end of the leafless branches. Sepals 5, petals 5, orange-red in color, except the other one which bears yellow or white stripes. It blooms i...

Polash or Flame of the Forest ( Butea monosperma , family : Fabaceae) is a medium-sized (12-14 m) flowering tree reaching 9-15 m height. Trunk is crooked, young shoot downy tomentose. Sanskrit name of the plant is Kingshuk. Leaves are compound, trifoliate, long petioled; leaflets leathery, turning glabrous with age, terminal leaflet obovate, 12-20 cm long and 12-16 cm wide.  Flowers are big, velvety, orange scarlet or orange, borne on 10-15 cm long inflorescence. Sepals 5, petals 5. The keel petals are united to form a beak. Flowers bloom in February. When spring comes the whole tree is filled with fire-colored flowers. This is why the flowering tree is called the Flame of the Forest. These unique flowers only lasts for two weeks. Fruit is capsule, 10-15 cm long and 3-4 cm wide, brown when mature. Propagation of the plant is caused by seed.  The beautiful tree is grown in big gardens and in roadsides. It is found in the Sal-Ban of Bangladesh. Seeds are ...

Shonalu  or   Golden shower tree   ( Cassia fistula , family: Fabaceae) is a medium-sized deciduous tree attaining a height of 8-10 m. This fast growing tree is native to South and Southeast Asia.  As an ornamental  flowering  tree it is planted in gardens, parks and roadsides in Bangladesh as well as Asian countries. Common names: Shonail, Shonalu, Bandor-lathi, Flame of the forest, Golden shower tree. Leaves are compound, rachis 10-35 cm long. Leaflets are ovate, 8-15 cm long and 3-7 cm wide. Flowers are yellow in pedunculate racemes, 40-50 cm long. Flower is showy, big, 4-6 cm across. Flowering season is early summer (April). Fruit is a legume, 30-60 cm long, black in color. Pungent odorous fruit contains several seeds. Monkeys used to play with the sticky fruits of cassia fistula and for this reason the local people of Bangladesh called it Bandor-lathi (Monkey stick).  Propagation of the plant is caused by seeds...