Flora of Bangladesh

Naglingom or Canon ball tree ( Couroupita guianensis , family: Lecythidaceae) is a soft-wooded lagre deciduous tree, attaining a height of about 25 m. Trunk is stout and rough, brownish grey. The tree has a habit of shedding its leaves all on a sudden and it does the act several times a year.  As an ornamental tree it is planted in parks, gardens, botanical gardens and by avenue. Its original home is South America. Leaves are alternate, oblong-ovate, 20-25 cm long, short-petioled, alternate. The new leaves are light green and eye-catching. The mature leaves are dark green. Flowers are yellow-pink or red with whitish stamens which are curved like the hood of a snake, strongly scented, about 5 cm long and 8 cm wide, on woody, pendulous racemes, 50-0 cm long, springing from old trunk.  Petals 6, outside brown-orange and inside maroon. Flowers bloom mainly in summer but these can be seen throughout the year.  Fruit is quite large and round, almost 15 cm wide, many seeded. I...

Kushum or Ceylon oak ( Schleichera oleosa , family: Sapindaceae) is a large-sized deciduous tree with spreading canopy and huge trunk, attaining a height up to 40 m. The diameter of the trunk can be up to 2 meters. Bark is grey and smooth. The leaves fall at the end of winter and new leaves come in spring. The leaves are surprisingly red.    Other names:  Joyna, Lakkha, Gum tree, Honey tree. This giant tree can be easily recognized by shiny red leaves. The fruits look a lot like Lotkon and are called by this name somewhere. It can be seen scattered in Chittagong and Chittagong Hill Tracts including the northern part of the country. It is originated in the Southeast region of Asia, especially in India, Sri Lanka and Myanmar.  Leaves are compound, sessile; leaflets elliptic-obovate, 4-20 cm long and 3-9 cm wide, opposite. The extraordinary young leaves are brilliant red in color. These are seen several times a year. Raceme inflorescence 6-15 cm long. Flowers are gre...

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...

Shet-shimul or Kapok ( Ceiba pentandra , family: Bombacaceae) is a tall deciduous tree, up to 30 m high, with fast-growing branches. Trunk is straight, prickly and greenish when young. The tree's trunk is so strong that it often covers a wide area. The original home of the plant is Central America. The leaves, flowers, fruits look a lot like Shimul ( Bombax ceiba ) . Other names: White silk cotton tree, Java cotton, Silk cotton. Leaves are alternate, compound, digitately arranged; leaflets 5-8 entire, blade 10-12 cm long, lanceolate, shortly petioled. Flowers are creamy white, 2.5 cm across, petals 5, borne on numerous axillary clusters near the end of branches. Fruit is a capsule, ovoid, oblong, green when raw, grey when ripe, 7-12 cm long, 5-valved, many-seeded.                       Flowering occurs from January-March along with the emergence of new leaves. Leaf, bark, fruit, flow...

Shegun or Teak ( Tectona grandis , family : Verbenaceae) is a lofty deciduous slow growing tree up to 25-30 m of height with few branches at the top and fluted trunk at the base. It is a tree of South and Southeast Asia.  The tree is highly valued for its superb timber used to make different kinds of furni-ture. Teak is one of the best woods in the world.  Like other countries it is planted as a ommercial tree in Bangladesh. However, it is also planted in the park, botanical gardens as an ornamental tree. The beautiful tree can be planted by rows on the highway. In winter it leaves its leaves completely. New leaves grow in the beginning of spring. Leaves are opposite, broadly elliptic, pointed at the end, 20-70 cm long, green, rough above, yellowish beneath, hairy. In the rainy season, white-colored and fragrant flowers cover the entire canopy. Flowers are small, borne on the large terminal panicle. Panicle is seen to be 1-3 feet tall.  Th...

Mahogany  ( Swietenia mahagoni , family: Meliaceae)  is a medium-sized semi-deciduous tree   attaining a height of 30-35 m. It has  short but strong base, large canopy, many heavy branches and dense shade. It is native to United States and the Caribbean islands. It is grown as an ornamental tree in tropical regions of the world. Its wood is the first choice for making high-quality furniture throughout the world. The bark is  furrowed and dark  gray in color.  In Bangladesh, it is planted as ornamental tree beside roads, in parks and is planted by name of social forestry.   Common names: Mahagni, Mahogany, West Indian mahogany. The leaves  are compound, 60 cm long,   leaflets   4-10 pairs,  each lance-shaped leaflet 20 cm long and 5 cm wide; terminal leafletless. Young leaves are blood red, quickly becoming a bright, light green and darkening as they mature. The flowers are  very fragrant, g...

Bon shupari or F ishtail palm   ( Caryota urens , family: Arecaceae) is a straight trunked monocarpic palm tree attaining a height of 12 m. The plant is native to the hilly areas of South and Southeast Asia. In Bangladesh, it is found in the forest of Sylhet. It is cultivated as an ornamental and houseplant tree (when smaller) in Bangladesh, as well as the tropical and sub-tropical world.  Common names: Bon shupari, Chao-gota, Golshagu, Sago, Chaur, F ishtail palm, Jaggery palm The  one-seeded  fruit is a drupe, 1 cm, reddish or purple-colored.  From the axil of each giant leaf, about 3 m long hanging inflorescence is grown.  Flowers are  numerous, white in color, unisexual. The bipinnate and  triangular  shaped  leaves are deep green in color. The genus name of the species 'urens' is derived from the presence of stinging chemicals in the fruit.