Flora of Bangladesh

Bokul or Medlar ( Mimusops elengi , family: Sapotaceae) is a medium-sized evergeeen tree with dome-shaped crown, attaining a height of 10-15 cm. Trunk is grey, rough and round with spreading branches. Indian subcontinent and Myanmar is the home of the tree. Common names:  Bullet wood, Spanish cherry. Leaves are alternate, wavy-ended, shiny green above and pale green underneath, elliptic, 8-10 cm and and 4-7 cm wide. New leaves come out in spring. Flowers are borne in axillary clusters, 1-6 in a bunch, each flower 1.5 cm in diameter. Sepals 5 but petals numerous. Flowers are small, very fragrant, white in color. Its scent is retained even if it dries. Flowering starts from summer and continues up to autumn. Fruits are oval-shaped, red or orange in color, 2-3 cm long; . 1-2-seeded. Flowers and fruits can be seen at a time.  Propagation of the plant is caused by seeds. It is a suitable tree fot roadside plantation. Its huge canopy provides p...

Pakur  or Golden rumph's   fig ( Ficus rumphii , family: Moraceae) is a large and beautiful tree from Fig family with spreading crown. The height and the shape of the tree is very much like its relatives-- Ashoth  and Bot . Bark is gray and smooth. Wood is also gray-colored. The deciduous tree with aerial prop roots is grown on the roadside areas, in parks and the premises of temple and by village huts as shadow tree. Leaves are dark green, entire, thin, ovate-oblong or slightly heart-shaped, 8-10 cm long and 5-7 cm wide, almost like the leaves of Ashoth, but have not any elongated tail-like part at the tip and also not broad and long than that; petioles 5-7 cm long. The leaves and young shoots contain milky latex.  Flowers remain inside fruit like all other figs in this family. Fruits called figs grow in cluster on branches. Figs are round. At the end of rainy season, the fruit becomes ripe. The worship of Nishkandi Deo and a village fair h...

Shirish or Lebbek tree ( Albizia lebbeck , family: Fabaceae) is a large deciduous tree with spreading crown, attaining a height of 15-20 m. The black bark tree is native to Bangladesh as well as Southeast Asia and Australia. Common names: Shirish, Siris, Kalo koroi, Lebbek tree, Frywood. Leaves bipinnate with a large gland on the base of petiole, pinnae 2-5 pairs. Leaflets 2.5-4 cm long and 1.5-2 cm wide, ovate, oblong, pale green.  Flowers bloom in April-June.  Flowers are  very  fragrant,  greenish white, heads globose, containing many flowers. Stamens are longer than petals and sepals. The fruit is a legume, 12-30 cm long and 2-5 cm wide. It contains 6-12 seeds. Propagation of the plant is caused by seeds.  Albizia lebbeck is a  good timber tree, fast growing and suitable for a forestation.  Bark prevents skin diseases and leaf night blindness. It is also useful in tuberculosis, diarrhea and leprosy.