Flora of Bangladesh

Dudhia or Shet kerui ( Dentella repens , family: Rubiaceae) is an annual herb with soft slender stem. It creeps along the ground and spreads around. Leaves are entire, thick and juicy, elliptic but pointed at both ends, 1 cm long.  Funnel-shaped flowers are solitary, small, nearly sessile, petals 5-lobed, 1 cm long, absolute white in color. Flowers bloom in the rainy season.  It is grown as weed on fallow land and at the edge of water bodies. The plant helps to prevent erosion of land. By the by, the plant's species name 'repens' means spreading or creeping.                                   Other Bangla names : Shadaphuli, Shada jabri, Bhuipat.

Bon-tepari or Angular winter cherry ( Physalis angulata , family: Solanaceae) is an annual herb attaining a height of 30-40 cm. The plant is originated in Americas. It has become naturalized throughout the tropical world. Common names: Angular winter cherry, Bon-tepari, Gooseberry, Hogweed, Wild tomato . Leaves are light green, ovate-oblong, acute, 6-12 cm long and 4-5.7 cm wide. Flowers are solitary, pale yellow in color. Fruit is round, remain inside a balloon-like calyx. Physalis angulata is a very common weed that grows in fallow land, roadside jungle and croplands in Bangladesh.  Seeds are used in the treatment of gonorrhea. Fruits are energizing and diuretic.