Flora of Bangladesh

Tilok pana or  Floating fern ( Salvinia natans , family: Salviniaceae) is a aquatic herb which floates on water, 1-3 cm in length. Actually it is an annual water fern. The good-looking fern grows well in stagnant water with the support of humid air and wide daylight. It is found throughout the tropical regions of the world. Other names: Ulki pana (Bang); Floating watermoss, Floating moss, Water butterfly wings (Eng). It has two leaves, which float on the water. Another leaf that is half-floating acts as root. Its leaves have a special layer to keep the process of photosynthesis from excess sunlight and to prevent it from rotting in water. As ferns reproduce through their spores, so does this plant.  It is found in canals, beels and ditches in Bangladesh along with Kochuri-pana , Topapana , Khudipana  and other aquatic plants. This aquatic fern is also a refuge for small fish.

Nilkanthi or Blue Snakeweed ( Stachytarpheta urticifolia , family: Verbenaceae) is a semi-erect herb with branches. Stem is quadrangular and slightly woody. It can get a height of 2 m. In Bangladesh it is found in Chattogram and Chattogram Hill Tracts and greater Sylhet area. The beautiful flowering plant has not yet become popular in the country. The propagation of the perennial plant is caused by seeds. Due to its dazzling purple or bluish flowers the plant is very popular throughout the tropical regions of the world.  Serrated-leaves are shinny green, simple, opposite, elliptic, 4-7 cm long, 2-5 cm wide, sessile. Midrib and veins clearly visible. Flowers are very attractive, scented, purple in color with white mark in the centre, sepals 5, petals 5, borne on very long terminal inflorescence, quite curved, looks like snake tail or rat tail. Flowering occurs in the rainy season. Fruit is a capsule, oblong, blackish. It has some medicinal values...

Kaakmachi or   B lack nightshade   ( Solanum nigrum , family: Solanaceae ) is a  perennial herb with soft stem and many branches. It is native to Eurasia and introduced to the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world . Common names: B lack nightshade , Garden nightshade Fruit is a berry, smooth, 5-7 cm in diameter.  Fruits are green and bitter when raw and dark purple when ripe. Ripe berries are attractive but poisonous. The flowers are small, pure white, clustered. Solanum nigrum is used in ulcer, piles, fever, vomiting, swelling, urinery and liver diseases.

Shimul or  Red silk-cotton   ( Bombax ceiba , family: Malvaceae) is one of the most common trees that found in Bangladesh. This deciduous straight tall tree with thorny trunk and spreading crown is also found in tropical regions of Asia. In Bangladesh, the tree is planted in parks and on highways and beside national monuments for its gorgeous fire-red flowers. It can reach a height up to 60 m. Common names: Shimul, Red silk-cotton, Red cotton tree. Leaves are large, spreading, glabrous, digitate, leaflets lanceolate, entire, 10-15 cm long; petiole is up to 20 cm long.  It blooms in spring (March-April).  Flowers red, numerous, appearing when the tree is bare of leaves, stamens numerous arranged in five outer bundles and one middle bundle.  Fruit capsules, woody valves. 10-13 cm in length. Seeds smooth, black or grey embedded in long white wool. Oh! the flame of the forest! Young plant is used in dysentery, cough, plethor...