Flora of Bangladesh

Nagesshor or Ceylon ironwood ( Mesua ferrea , family: Clusiaceae) is a medium-sized tree attaining a height of 15 m. It is regarded as one of the most beautiful ornamental trees found in Bangladesh. Angular shape has given the tree a gorgeous look. It is planted in gardens, parks, botanical gardens and in road islands in the country. New leaves and young shoots are brilliant red. As a leafy tree it gives dense shade. So it has a lot of characteristics as an avenue tree. It is originated in South and South-east Asia. It is found in Sylhet, Chottogram and  Chottogram Hill Tracts in Bangladesh. Leaves are dark green, leathery, narrower, lanceolate, opposite, 7-10 cm long, upperside shinning and lowerside whitish. It gives new leaves round the year. Flowering occurs in spring. Flowers are spectacular, sweet-scented, 4-8 cm in diameter, white or pinkish white, sepals 2, petals 4, stamens numerous. Flowers are bisexual. The fruit looks a lot like Acorn. It is r...

Bel or Wood apple ( Aegle marmelos , Rutaceae) is a spiny deciduous tree with many branches, attaining a height of 10-12 m. Bark is grey, soft. The tree has been regarded as sacred plant to Hindu community. The medium-sized tree is a very popular homestead tree.  It has been planted in Hindu temples in the subcontinent for thousand of years. The leafy tree can be planted by roads and highways and in park and gardens as an ornamental plant.  Leaves are tri-foliate, wild-scented, alternate, green. There are hard thorns at the bottom of leaves. Leaves fall off in summer. Leaflet is lanceolate, 8-10 cm long and 4-6 cm wide. Flowers are white with greenish touch, bisexual, sweet-scented. Petals 4, fleshy, calyx shortened, stamens numerous. Flowers bloom in March-May.  Fruits are round, big, woody, edible, sweet-scented. The fruit matures for almost 8 months after the flowering occurs. Propagation is by seeds. It has a valuable medicina...

Konokchura (Peltophorum pterocarpum, family : fabaceae) is a medium-sized deciduous tree with profuse foliage, reaching up to 18 m in height. Its main trunk is steep, gray and smooth. The branches are divided into many parts, densely adjusted and shadowy. Dark green leaves are small, elliptic, pinnately compound, rachis 30-45 cm long. In summer, full canopy cover with yellow flowers. Flowers are brilliant yellow, clustered on terminal inflorescence. Sepal 5, petals 5. Flowers are very fragrant. The fruit is flattened, copper-colored, a lot like a shield, long lasting. Propagation of the plant is caused by seeds. Saplings can be easily made from seeds. Its original home is Andaman Archipelago, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Australia. It is a fast growing tree. So it is suitable for planting as a flower tree. It is planted in gardens and on roadside as an ornamental tree in Bangladesh. The tree is seen in the roads and parks in Dhaka.  Its log is use...

Tomal  or  Mountain persimmon  ( Diospyros cordifolia,  family: Ebenaceae) is a deciduous small to medium-sized tree with spreading branches and blackish bark, sometimes thorny. This beautiful tree is native to Malaysia, Myanmar, Australia and is introduced to Bangladesh and other subcontinent countries. Not yellow, but black is the ripe fruit! Leaves are simple green, glabrous, petioled, alternate, lanceolate-cordate 5-10 cm long and 2-4 cm wide.  Flowers are small, whitish, with 4 petals. January-February is the flowering time. Male and female flowers usually grow singly from leaf axil while the male ones bloom in cluster on cyme inflorescence.  Poisonous fruit is berry, round,  fleshy  2.5 cm across. Half-matured fruits are ye llow and they turn purplish black when fully ripe. Propagation of the plant is caused by seeds. As a medicinal plant diospyros cordifolia is used in the treatment of fever, pneumo...

Jilapi Babul or Blackbeed tree ( Pithecellobium dulce , family: Leguminosae ) is a medium-sized evergreen tree with pofused branches and spreading crown.  The tree can reach a height of 10-15 m. Trunk is spiny. Bark is grey.  The tree is native to Americas. It is introduced to South and Southeast Asia.  Common names: Khoia babla, Jilapi babul,  Jilapi,  Dokkhini babul, Blackbeed tree, Manila tamarind. Leaves are bipinnate, each pinna has a single pair of ovate-oblong leaflets. Young leaves are brownish.  In Bangladesh  flower blooms in spring, They are small, fragrant, greenish-white, 1 cm in diameter, borne in globose head.  The edible fruit is a pod, 10-15 cm long. When ripe (in summer) it turns tightly-coiled shape and reddish-brown in color and this is the main characteristic of the tree.  Fruit tastes sweet and sour.  Seeds are shiny, black in color.  Leaves and raw fruits are used as...