Flora of Bangladesh

Dhoincha or Prickly sesban ( Sesbania bispinosa , family: Fabaceae) is an erect and fast growing annual shrub with flexible branches. The water friendly plant can get a height of 7 m, but can be seen more than 1 to 2 meters usually.  Leaves are compound; leaflets 11-45 pairs, deep green, small, 3-4 cm long and 1-1.5 cm wide.  Flowers are showy, spectacular, bright yellow, borne on 15 cm long inflorescence. Sepals 5, petals, 5. Petals are dotted with purplish marks. For this reason, they seem like orchids. It blooms in September-October. Fruit is a pod, very long, 20-25 cm. Each pod contains numerous seeds. These are brown in color. Propagation of the plant is caused by seeds. The plant is filled with medicinal properties. The plant is used to increase fertility of soil and destroy insects. The nodule in its roots help to keep nitrogen in the soil firmly.  Its leaves and seeds are used to feed cattles. Organic fertilizers can be made ...

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...