Flora of Bangladesh

Lungichor or Running Mountain Grass ( Oplismenus compositus , family: Poaceae) is a perennial grass with spectacular leaves and inflorescence, attaining a height of 20-120 cm. It trails on ground by growing roots from the hairy nodes.  It is found in the  tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, South America and Australia. It is found in shady and damp places of forest in Bangladesh. Leaves are green, hairy, lanceolate-ovate, 3-12 cm long, pointed apex, sessile, undulate. Flowering occurs in the autumn to late autumn. Raceme inflorescence 10-25 cm long. Lower florets are barren, Upper florets bisexual. Fruits are linear, tiny. When spikelets become dry, they try to touch passing animals and this way they complete the  propagation. The leaves of the plant are beautiful. So it can be planted in gardens, parks and road islands. Gohur is the another Bangla name of the plant.

Keteli or Creeping thistle ( Cricus arvensis , family:  Asteraceae) is an erect perennial herb, attaining a height of 40-120 cm. It grows on cropland or on the edge of lands in Bangladesh. Its stem and leaves are covered with cobwebby hairs. Spiny leaves are simple, dented, unevenly wavy, sessile, usually 7-10 cm long and 1-3 cm wide. Other name: Kanta dudhley, Kanta kandailey, Shilkanta, Logakanta. Flowers are small, pink, borne on head. Single flower is soft as a feather. Male and female flowers bloom on separate inflorescences. The infloresence bearing male flowers is round and the one bearing female flowers is oblong. The fruit is an achene, having brown pappus and looking glaucous and glabrous. Mature seeds are cotton-like fiber which can spread far and wide.  It is mostly found in the rural areas of the country. By the by, the flowering time of the plant is spring.