Flora of Bangladesh

Kachchhara or Ceylon hydrolea ( Hydrolea zeylanica , family: Hydrophyllaceae) is a trailing or semi-erect annual herb with branches. It can get a length of 30-40 cm. By the roots, produced from nodes, it survives on the ground. The branches are reddish and tomentose. Other  Bangla   name:     Ishanguli .  Despite its beautiful flowers, it is still not popular among the gardeners of Bangladesh. Short-petioled leaves are simple, lanceolate, entire. Showy flowers borne in terminal or axillary inflorescence, subsessile. Petals 5, sepals 5, stamens 5. Sepals are lanceolate, pubescent, persistent. Flowering occurs in late autumn to winter (Oct-Jan).  Fruit is a capsule, thin, transparent, globose, many-seeded. Propagation is caused by seeds.  The plant is often used as fodder. The leaves have antiseptic properties that are used in wounds. The leaves are also used to the treatment of ulcer. It is found in sha...

Kalmegh or Kalomegh, Green chirayta ( Andrographis paniculata , family: Acanthaceae) is a bushy herb attaining a height of 1 m. Stem and branches are quadrangular. It is well-known medicinal plant in Bangladesh as well as in Indian subcontinent. The whole plant is bitter.   Leaves are deep green, simple, opposite, narrow, 5-8 cm long, dented; veins and midribs are clearly visible. leaves taste bitter.  Flowers are small, white with pinkish shade; tomentose; they will be red too. They bloom from late autumn to spring (November-March).  Fruit is a capsule. They are narrow, upwards, small in size. There are numerous seeds in a pod. It propagates through seeds. The plant grows on fallow lands as weed in Bangladesh. Nowadays it is grown in homestead or farmland for its medicinal value.  It is used in dysentery, fever, worm, sore and stomach disorder. Liver tonic is prepared from the plant. The leaves are used to clean rotten woun...

Polash or Flame of the Forest ( Butea monosperma , family : Fabaceae) is a medium-sized (12-14 m) flowering tree reaching 9-15 m height. Trunk is crooked, young shoot downy tomentose. Sanskrit name of the plant is Kingshuk. Leaves are compound, trifoliate, long petioled; leaflets leathery, turning glabrous with age, terminal leaflet obovate, 12-20 cm long and 12-16 cm wide.  Flowers are big, velvety, orange scarlet or orange, borne on 10-15 cm long inflorescence. Sepals 5, petals 5. The keel petals are united to form a beak. Flowers bloom in February. When spring comes the whole tree is filled with fire-colored flowers. This is why the flowering tree is called the Flame of the Forest. These unique flowers only lasts for two weeks. Fruit is capsule, 10-15 cm long and 3-4 cm wide, brown when mature. Propagation of the plant is caused by seed.  The beautiful tree is grown in big gardens and in roadsides. It is found in the Sal-Ban of Bangladesh. Seeds are ...