Flora of Bangladesh

Tridhara or Coatbuttons ( Tridax procumbens , family: Compositae) is a perennial herb with soft, hairy and weak stem. It can get a height about 1 m. The plant grows on fallow land and roadside areas as weed in Bangladesh. It can be planted in garden as an ornamental flowering herb. Leaves are light green, opposite, short petioled, ovate-lanceolate with divided or dented and hairy edge. Flowers are beautiful, showy, yellow in color, head, set on very long pedicel. In the head there are five ray florets and the centre there are closely-knit small round disk florets. Flowering occurs round the year. Flower and fruit can be seen in same plant at a time. Fruit is cotton-like. The propagation of the plant is caused by seeds; those can be spread far and wide through the air. It is a medicinal plant. It is used in different kinds of diseases. Other common names: Tunaki, Tridaxa, Tridokkho.

Ashphol or Longan tree ( Dimocarpus longan , family: Sapindaceae) is a medium-sized (10-15 m) evergreen tree from Litchi family. Bark is blackish grey. Its fruit is known as Kath-lichu in Bangla, because it has a similarity with litchi. Leaflets green, 2-5 pairs, elliptical, ovate or lanceolate, acute or obtuse at the end, glabrous above, Veins and midribs are clearly visible, 7-10 cm long and 3-5 cm wide.  Flowers are small, petals 5, yellowish white as Litchi's flower, soft and round, borne on terminal panicle. Male and hermaphrodite flowers can be seen in the same panicle. Flowers occur in February-Mach.  Fruit is round, brown and reddish yellow, containing one seed each like Litchi. Fruit-flesh is juicy and almost sweet as Litchi, but not thick as that. Fruits ripen in May-June.  The plant is propagated by seed and air layering. Fruits are edible and popular among the children of Bangladesh. Original home of the plant is Malay. It is fo...

Lota futki or Balloon plant ( Cardiospermum halicacabum , family: Sapindaceae) a large creeper with wiry stems, climbing other trees with tendrils, sometimes completely covering the host. The climber is native to tropical and subtropical Africa and Asia. The plant grows on fallow land as weed in Bangladesh.         Common names:  Kanfutki, kopalfutki, Noafutki, Futka (Bangla), Balloon vine, Love in a puff (English). Leaves are compound, ternate, lanceolate, lobed or serrated, 4-8 cm long. Flowering and budding occurs round the year. Flowers are very small, greenish white. Fruit is triangular, 1.5-4 cm wide, hairy and black when ripe. Calyx develop into the coat of fruit.   These are 3-seeded. Each seed have a heart-shaped mark at the top.                                                 ...

Bilombi or   Cucumber tree   (A verrhoa bilimbi , family: Oxalidaceae) is a fruit-bearing small tree with short trunk and profuse branches, attaining a height of 5-10 m. This beautiful tree is native to Moluccas, Indonesia (possibly) and now cultivated throughout the tropical Asia.  Common names: Bilombi, Bilimbi, Bilombu (Bang), Cucumber tree (Eng). Flowers are small, inter-mixed with purple and white and borne on the old stem. Calyx is rust colored. Flower blooms mainly in March-April.                               Leaves are light green and compound. Leaflet is lanceolate with sharp end, 3-6 cm long,  alternate.  Fruit is fleshy and cylindrical, 4-11 cm long. The ripe fruit is yellowish green. Averrhoa bilimbi is found all over Bangladesh as a homestead plant. Propagation of the plant is caused by seeds.  Fruit contains vitamin C, potassi...

Jarul or Giant crepe-myrtle   ( Lagerstroemia speciosa , family: Lythraceae) is a medium-sized deciduous tree with upright branches and grey bark. It can get a height of 15-20 m. The tree is native to South & Southeast Asia.  The water-loving plant is found around the wetlands areas in Bangladesh.  Common names: Giant crape-myrtle, Pride of India. Leaves are green, entire, elliptical or lanceolate, 10-20 cm long and 4-8 cm wide.  Fowers are in raceme inflorescences, showy, purple in color. Flower 5-7 cm across, have 5 petals with numerous stamens in the middle. It  gives flower early  in the  summer.  The round to oval-shaped fruit is  2-3 cm in diameter. When mature it becomes very dry and splits in 6 pieces.  Propagation of the plant is caused by seeds. Parrot loves its fruits very much! The leaf and bark are laxative stimulant. The decoction made from these can prevent fever. The p...