Flora of Bangladesh

Alkushi or Cowitch ( Mucana pruriens , family: Fabaceae) is an annual or sometimes perennial twinning vine. It is one of the best itch-producing fruits in the world. The leafy and hairy plant is found beside the roads, in village thickets and in the deep hilly forests of Bangladesh. It is also found in some countries of South and Southeast Asia.  Other names:  Bilai chimti, Koch, Bichuti. Leaves are tri-foliate, grey-silky beneath, leaflets ovate or almost quadrangular, 8-17 cm long, petioled. Leaf-nerves are unequal-sided.  6-30 flowers are in raceme inflorescence, pendulous, 15-30 cm long, tube campanulate, corolla usually deep purple, also be white or pink, 3-4 cm long. Flowering occurs in October-November. Fruit is S-shaped pod that covered with numerous irritating or stinging hairs, grey in color, 5-8 cm long and 1.5 cm wide. Seeds 5-6,  grey in color. Fruit matures in November-February. Its fruits, seeds, roots have been widely used in Ayurvedic treatment for...

Horina or Boro horina ( Lepisanthes rubiginosa , family: Sapindaceae) is a small tree with branches, attaining a height of 15 m. It is found in village thickets in Bangladesh. It is also found in South and Southeast Asia and in Australia. The little leafy tree is a beautiful one. It can be planted as an ornamental plant beside roads, in parks and gardens. Leaves are paripinnate (leaves are in pair in a pinnae), Leaflets 6-12, opposite or almost opposite, pale green in color, ovate-oblong, 5-15 cm long and 3-8 cm wide.   Inflorescence 15-30 cm long. Flowers are sweet-scented, very small, brownish white or yellowish, terminal; peatls 4, sepals 4. These bloom in March-April. Fruit is round, 1-3-lobed, almost glabrous, 1-1.5 cm long. When ripe, the fruits turn blackish. Before ripening, the fruits gradually turn yellow and red. And this is one of the easiest ways to detect the tree.  Fruits are sweet-tasted. Children love these. These are fa...

Sultanchapa, Punnag or  Alexandrian laurel ball tree (C alophyllum inophyllum , family: Clusiaceae) is a medium-sized evergreen tree with profuse branches, attaining a height of about 12 m. The good-looking plant is seen in the coastal areas and Sundarban in Bangladesh. Its common English name is Alexandrian laurel ball tree. Other names: Konyal, Katth-chompa. Leaves are smooth, shiny, leathery, dark green, 8-16 cm long, 6-10 cm wide, elliptic, tip rounded or obcordate (cordate at the tip); veins parallel, numerous, hardly visible.  Flowers are white, showy, fragrant, borne on axillary raceme (10-15 cm long), with many yellow stamens at centre.  It blooms in the rainy season.   The fruit is a drupe, round-shaped, 3-4 cm in diameter, yellow when ripe.  Propagation of the slow growing plant is caused by seeds and cuttings. It is grown in parks and gardens as an ornamental plant.  Different parts of he p...

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...

Nil bonolota or Bengal trumpet ( Thunbergia grandiflora , family: Acanthaceae) is a vigorous perennial climber. The climber is native to Indian subcontinent as well as Southeast Asia.  Common names: Nil lota, Nil bonolota, Bengal clock vine, Bengal trumpet, Blue thunbergia. Flowers are big, pale blue, on pendulous racemes. Sepals 5, petals 5. Flower-buds of thunbergia grandiflora. Leaves are angularly cordate and lobed, rough on both surfaces, 10-16 cm long.     The plant in its original habitat, Khoiachhora, Mirshorai It continuously produces flowers in summer through rainy season.  It is grown on fence, pergola or wall in Bangladesh. Root of the plant counteracts poison of snake. Leaf juice is stomachic. Propagation of the plant is caused by cuttings.

Lojjaboti or Touch me not ( Mimosa pudica , family: Fabaceae) is a annual or perennial woody and creeping herb. The prickly herb is native to South America. Nowadays it is found throughout the tropical world as well as South and Southeast Asia.  Common names: Lojjaboti, Touch me not, Sensitive plant, Sleepy plant, Shy plant. Leaves are very sensitive─a slight touch instantly causes them to unfurl and shrink. The Bangla name (Lojjaboti) has been derived from this special attribute. Leaves are pinnately compound, pinnae 2 pairs, blade 8 pairs, linear, opposite, looking like feather. Flowers are small, pinkish in color, clustered as head. The plant is used to prepare medicine for dysentery, piles, constipation, snake poison, arthritis and toothache. It helps to stop abnormal blood emission due to abortion. Friut is a pod, 1-3 cm long. 2-7 prickly pods consists in a cluster. Hard coated seeds are pale brown. Propagation of the plant i...

Chalta or Elephant apple ( Dillenia indica , family: Dilleniaceae) is an evergreen tree with branches attaining a height of about 10 m. In Bangladesh, the flower of the plant is a iconic flower of  rainy season. This beautiful tree is native to South and Southeast Asia. Common names: Chalta, Elephant apple Leaves are petioled, simple, green, lanceolate, 15-27 cm wide, serrated, with 30-40 conspicuous veins. Flowers are lagre, showy, white, with many yellow stamens at center. Petals 5, sepals 5. It blooms in June-July. Fruit is big, round, 7-10 cm across.  Propagation is caused by seeds.  Dillenia indica is one of the most common homestead trees in Bangladesh. Fruit, leaves, root and bark contain a lot of vitamin C, tannin and glucose. These are useful in cough, constipation, dyspepsia, epilepsy and intestinal gas. Fruit juice is used in hair care. Tasty pickles are made from its fruit.

Muktajhuri or   Indian acalypha   ( Acalypha indica , family: Euphorbiaceae) is an annual herb attaining a height of below 1 m. It is found in Tropical Africa, South and Southeast Asia.     Common names: Muktajhuri, Indian acalypha, Three-seeded mercury. Leaves are green, oval-shaped, serrated with hairs. Pedicel is 2.5-4 cm long. Flowers are very small, greenish in color, embedded in round bract.  Flower and fruit appear almost round the year.  Seeds are small and round. In Bangladesh, it is found in fallow land and road.  Propagation of the plant is caused by seeds.

Sotthi or  Zedoary ( Curcuma zedoaria , family: Zingiberaceae) is a perennial herb with underground tubers. It is the closest relative of Turmeric. Needless to say, the characteristics of the two are almost the same. The underground tuber or rhizome is Camphor -scented and white-colored, spreading like Ginger or Turmeric. It is native to South and Southeast Asia. It is found in the rural area, Sal forests and the foothills of hilly areas in Bangladesh.     Other names: Shoti, Shuvodra, Shoumya, Polashika, Shugondhomula (Bang); White turmeric (Eng). Leaves arise from the tubers. Leaves are glabrous, about1 m long, narrow at the petiole. Flower blooms in spring-summer. At this time, when it rains a little, a fairy, quite long receptacle (inflorescence stick; about 50 cm long) come out from the rhizome. The bracts in receptacle are purplish and greenish. Although the whole receptacle looks like a flower, the flowers are actually quite small, bloom in the lap...

Dalim or Pomegranate ( Punica granatum , family: Lythraceae) is a deciduous fruit-bearing shrub or small tree growing 6 to 10 m high. The plant is native to Iran. In modern times, it is extensively grown in Southeast Asia and South China.   The flowers of punica granatum are bright orange-red, 3 cm in diameter, borne on terminal branches. Petals 3-7. It produces flowers all the year round. The fruit is very popular throughout the world. The berry has thick, reddish skin; 5-12 cm in diameter. Seeds are surrounded by numerous white, deep red or purplish juicy coat. Leaves are opposite, green, glabr o us, e l l iptical, entire, 6-10 cm long and 2-3 cm wide. Juice from pomegranate is very popular drink in Europe and the Middle East.  According to ancient Greek mythology, the pomegranate is known as the 'fruit of the dead'.  Propagation of t h e plant is caused by seeds . Fruit, fruit skin, root, flowe...