Flora of Bangladesh

Palan or Scarlet wrightia ( Wrightia coccinea , family: Apocynaceae) is a small deciduous tree with branches, attaining a height of 8-10 m. The original home of the lovely small tree is Southeast Asia. 'Palam' is the another Bangla name of the plant.  The tree is very beautiful and for that it can be planted as an ornamental plant beside roads and in parks and gardens. In Bangladesh, it is found in hilly areas of greater Sylhet.   Leaves are deep green, ovoid-lanceolate, apex elongated but obtuse; opposite, petiole short, 2-3 pairs in each pinnae, terminal leaf missing, 7-12 cm long and 3-4 cm wide. At the end of the spring flowers bloom with new leaves. Flower is very attractive, scentless, 3-4 cm wide, scarlet in color, showy. Sepals 5, petals 5. Terminal inflorescence bears 2-3 flowers.  Flowers bloom in March-May. Petals are leathery. For this reason, may be, the flowers have been seen dry in the tree for a long time. Fruit is pod, 15-

Bon-moricha or Pigeon berry ( Rivina humilis , family: Petiveriaceae) is an erect perennial herb with soft but slightly woody at base, attaining 1 m of height. The plant is easily recognizable by its brilliant red-colored fruits.  It can be planted in gardens and parks as an ornamental plant. The original home of the plant is USA (Florida to Texas). It is now naturalized in Bangladesh and India.  Leaves are dark green, simple, petioled, 2.5 cm long; alternate, ovate-oblong with narrow and elongated apex.   The hermaphrodite flowers are small, white with pedicel, on axillary, rarely terminal, many flowered racemes. Flowering occurs from August to April in Bangladesh. Fruit is berry, almost round, attractive, blood red.  

Daadmordon or Ringworm bush ( Senna alata , family: Caesalpiniaceae) is a tall erect shrub, attaining a height of 2.5 m. Stem is thick and yellowish. It is native to the West Indian Islands. From there it came to the country through the Portuguese. It is found in fallow lands and beside roads in Bangladesh. It is also found in the tropical areas round the world. The plant is unique to bring the royal splendor of yellow color to gardens.   As an ornamental plant it is planted in gardens and parks. The bushy shrub is a very popular medicinal plant in the country as well as Indian subcontinent.  Leaves compound, 25-60 m long, leaflets 6-10 pairs, oblong, opposite, 6-10 cm long 4-5 cm wide, sometimes slightly orcordate at the tip, sessile.  Flowers are borne on upward terminal raceme, from bottom to top, 15-20 cm long. Flowers are brilliant yellow with brownish shade, 2-5 cm wide, petals 5, several different-sized stamens in the middle. Flowers remain covered

Shaluk or Blue water lily ( Nymphaea nouchali , family: Nymphaceae) is an aquatic plant grows from underwater soil. The plant is found in ponds, canals, beels and jheels everywhere in Bangladesh along with White water lily , Keshordam , Water spinach , Bladderwort and other aquatic plants.  Leaves are shiny green, purplish or reddish beneath, round or ovate, irregularly serrated, 15-32 cm long and 10-25 cm wide, floating on water. The length of petiole and pedicel increases with the rise of water level.  Flower is purplish and slightly scented. Petals 10-30, oblong to oblong-lanceolate, acute, arranged in three layers. Stamens numerous, 10-50, yellow in color. Petiole is 20-150 cm long. Sepals usually green, sometimes dull red, often marked with darker dots and lines. The flower is little bit smaller than Shapla, Water lily. Flower blooms at night. It remains open till noon. Flowering occurs in the rainy season to late autumn (July to November). Fruit a spon

Shohosro-beli or Chinese Glory Bower ( Clerodendrum chinense , family: Verbenaceae) is a perennial shrub with quadrangular stem, attaining a height of 1-1.5 m. Usually, many plants of the species are seen together in wilderness in Bangladesh. As an ornamental plant it is planted in parks and gardens in the country.  Leaves are large and thin, 10-15 cm long and 7-12 cm wide, ovate-cordate, light green, hairy, deeply serrated, long petioled. Lower side of the leaf is light brown with red shade.  Summer and Rainy seasons are the flowering time of this evergreen shrub. Flowers are clustered on round head at the end of branches. Flowers are white with pink shade, multipetaled, sweet-scented, 2.5 cm across.  Flowers are very much like Beli (Arabian jasmine, Jasminum sambac ). The fragrance of the flowers are very much like that flower too. That’s why the Bangla name of the plant is Hajar-beli.  It is believed that the original home of the plant is China. 

Tridhara or Coatbuttons ( Tridax procumbens , family: Compositae) is a perennial herb with soft, hairy and weak stem. It can get a height about 1 m. The plant grows on fallow land and roadside areas as weed in Bangladesh. It can be planted in garden as an ornamental flowering herb. Leaves are light green, opposite, short petioled, ovate-lanceolate with divided or dented and hairy edge. Flowers are beautiful, showy, yellow in color, head, set on very long pedicel. In the head there are five ray florets and the centre there are closely-knit small round disk florets. Flowering occurs round the year. Flower and fruit can be seen in same plant at a time. Fruit is cotton-like. The propagation of the plant is caused by seeds; those can be spread far and wide through the air. It is a medicinal plant. It is used in different kinds of diseases. Other common names: Tunaki, Tridaxa, Tridokkho.