Flora of Bangladesh

Bohera or Belleric myrobalan ( Terminalia bellirica , family: Combretaceae) is a large deciduous tree with numerous spreading branches, attaining a height of 30 to 40 m. Trunk is straght. Bark is thick and deep grey in color. Widely heard ‘Triphala’ is a mixture of Horitki ( Terminalia chebula ), Amloki ( Phyllanthus emblica ) and Bohera. According to Ayurvedic method, regular consumption of Triphala-soaked water will reduce excess weight effortlessly. It is found in the Sal forests as well as hilly forests of Bangladesh. It is also found in Southeast Asia and Northern Australia.  Other names:  Boyra, Bastard myrobalan (Eng). Leaves are ovoid or obovoid, 8-20 cm long and 5-10 cm wide with rounded tip, long petioled, alternate, clustered at the end of branchlets. The leaves totally fall off in winter. The sparkle of new leaves in spring is bound to catch everyone's eye.  Inflorescence is axilary, terminal, pendant, spike, up to 8 cm long. Flowers are sweet-scented, ...

Shalu kocu or Shola kochu ( Alocasia fornicata , family: Araceae) is an erect perinnial herb with rhizome and stolon, attaining a height of 1 to 1.5 m. Stolon grows horizontally. Roots are whitish. It is found everywhere, specially in ditch and damp places in Bangladesh along with Pipul ( Piper longum ), Bhat ( Clerodendrum viscosum ), Asam lota, ( Mikania micrantha ) and other species of ferns. It is also found in South and Southeast Asia. All parts of the plant is eaten as vegetable in the country.  Leaves are broad, thin, triangular, pale but deep green, glabrous, shiny, 30-40 cm long, bottom part cut apart. Petiole is thick and almost as long as the total height of the plant, 40-45 cm. Like other members of the genus Alocasia, new leaves develop slowly from its wrapped state. New leaves are spectacular. Numerous small and yellow-colored flowers are clustered on spadix inflorescence, covered with eye-catching white-colored spathe. In the initial stage the inflorescence is full...

Noyontara or Cape periwinkle ( Catharanthus roseus , family: Apocynaceae) is an annual or perinnial semi-woody herb, attaining a height of 30-90 cm. Stem and shoots are reddish and juicy. Whole plant has a strong odor. It is one of the most appreciated flowering plants of the tropical world. The plant is so endearing that several cultivars have been created and the colors of their flowers are no less beautiful. The original home of the plant is Madagascar.   Leaves are beautiful too. These are green, glabrous, elliptical-ovate, 5-7 cm long, tip pointed, alternate. Flowers are of two colors mainly: white and violet, 3-3.5 cm wide. Petals 5 with red spot at the centre (yellow eye in white flowers). Lower part of the flower is tubular, 2.5 cm long. Flowers bloom mainly in rainy season, though it may be seen round the year. Fruit is a folicle, 2-5 cm long. Seeds are dark black. The plant is propagated by seeds and air layering. It grows easily in partial shade. It is also suitab...

Agor or Lign aloes ( Aquilaria agallocha , family: Thymelaeaceae) is an large evergreen tree with spreading branches. Trunk is straght, glabrous. Bark is whitish. Wood is soft. Perfume stick Agorbati and various kinds of perfumes are made from its wood. It is cultivated as commercial crops in Bangladesh, especially in the hilly area of Moulovibazar district. It is originally from India. It can be seen scattered in different parts of Bangladesh. Other name: Oguru  Leaves are green, thin, glabrous, lanceolate, petioled, 7-12 cm long and 2-5 cm wide, entire, apex acute, alternate. Flowers are whitish, borne on umbel inflorescence; petals 5. Flower blooms in April-May. Fruit is 2-5 cm long, obovate, covered with thick hair. Brown-colored seeds come out of the fruit and hang for 1-2 days. Propagation of the plant is caused by seeds.   Powder of timber is used to prevent insect infestation. Bark is used to make rope. Resin is obtained as a result of the action of a type of f...

Gondhovadulia or Skunkvine ( Paederia foetida , family: Rubiaceae) is a perennial twining climer having very unpleasant scented leaves and hairy shoots. The beautiful leafy climber is found everywhere in Bangladesh as homestead plant. It grows naturally in hilly forests of the country too. Beside Bangladesh it is also found in the countries of Southern Asia.  Other names :  Gondhovaduli, Gondhobadali, Badali-vadalia, Gondhal, Gandhal, Modhulota, Paduni pata; Bhadra & Prasarani (Sanskrit). Leaves are simple, deep green, oblong-ovoid with cordate base, tip elongated, 5-10 cm long and 7 cm wide, hairy, long petioled. Its leaves produces almost the scent of human stool. But the truth is, its leaves are eaten as a very tasty vegetable in the Indian subcontinent. And these are used as effective medicine in the treatment of various kinds of diseases. Flowers are in terminal or axillary inflorescence, almost 1 cm in length, campanulate, pink or white in outside, violet in inner ...

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...

Rokto kanchon or Orchid tree ( Bauhinia variegata , family: Caesalpiniaceae) is a small or medium-sized deciduous tree with numerous and scattered branches. Trunk is short. Bark is rough, grey-colored. As an ornamental plant it is found in parks, gardens, botanical gardens in Bangladesh. The home of the beautiful flowering plant is South and Southeast Asia.  Other names: Rokto kanchon, Lal kanchon. It can be easily identified by looking at its leaves. Suddenly it looks like a pair of wings of butterfly. These are green, ovate, parltly bilobed, shiny, 8-12 cm long, apex emerginate, 11-15 veins, long-petioled. Flowers are magenta with reddish tone, edge slightly white, sweet-scented, 5-6 cm wide, borne on inflorescence. Petals 5, sepals 5; stamens 5, uneven.  It is an iconic flower of spring of Indian subcontinent, especially in Greater Bangla. It blooms during February-April. Its white flowers are also seen in Bangladesh, and of the same species.  Fruit is a pod, dehisc...

Naglingom or Canon ball tree ( Couroupita guianensis , family: Lecythidaceae) is a soft-wooded lagre deciduous tree, attaining a height of about 25 m. Trunk is stout and rough, brownish grey. The tree has a habit of shedding its leaves all on a sudden and it does the act several times a year.  As an ornamental tree it is planted in parks, gardens, botanical gardens and by avenue. Its original home is South America. Leaves are alternate, oblong-ovate, 20-25 cm long, short-petioled, alternate. The new leaves are light green and eye-catching. The mature leaves are dark green. Flowers are yellow-pink or red with whitish stamens which are curved like the hood of a snake, strongly scented, about 5 cm long and 8 cm wide, on woody, pendulous racemes, 50-0 cm long, springing from old trunk.  Petals 6, outside brown-orange and inside maroon. Flowers bloom mainly in summer but these can be seen throughout the year.  Fruit is quite large and round, almost 15 cm wide, many seeded. I...

Raj oshok or Pride of Burma ( Amherstia nobilis , family: Caesalpiniaceae) is an evergreen medium-sized tree with branches, attaining a height of 10-15 m. The slow-growing tree looks like its family member Ashoka . The plant is originated in Myanmar. It is found in the Hill Tracts of Chattogram in Bangladesh as well as some countries of Southeast Asia. It is grown in gardens, parks, botanical gardens and along roadsides for its extraordinary shape of flowers.  Common names: Queen of flowers, Queen of flowering trees, Burma flower, Amherstia, Shokrey.  Leaves are compound, rachis 30-45 cm long. Leaflet is lanceolate, 10-15 cm long. Young leaves with various beautiful shades of pink, copper, mauve or purple hanging loosely from the end of branches, turn bright green on becoming firm.  The hanging inflorescence is spectacular, quite long, 50-75 cm. The flower at the base of the inflorescence blooms first, then the later ones gradually. Flower is bright red-yellow, sepals ...

Boro shialmuti  or Siam weed ( Chromolaena odorata, family: Asteraceae) is a fast growing and highly reproductive perennial herb with many branches. In suitable condition, it can grow up to 10 m. Branches are hairy and glandular, stem woody. It grows in fallow land, in jungle and on the side of roads. It is regarded as an invasive plant round the globe. It has been said that, in Bangladesh, it escaped from the botanical gardens of Dhaka in the 19th centuary. It is originated in Americas, from USA to South America.  Leaves are green, triangular-ovate, 3-10 cm long, 2-5 cm wide, deeply dented with pointed end, opposite. The leaves give off a pungent scent when crushed. Bunch of flowers bloom in the shape of head. Flowers are small and light violet.   Fruits are round. Seeds are achenes, hairy. Propagation of the plant is caused by seeds. The seeds usually float in the air and travel long distances. However, it can go to different places through the body of  anim...

Kochu or Taro ( Colocasia esculenta , family: Araceae) is a perennial aquatic herb with stolon and rhizome, attaining a height of 1.5 m. It is found by water or standing in water. The fast-growing plant is found almost everywhere in Bangladesh. Although it is originated mainly in Southeast Asia, it has gradually become naturalized in the tropical world. It is one the oldest cultivated crops in Asia. The whole part of the plant, like leaf, stem, petiole, rhizome, stolon--everything can be eaten as vegetable. Other names: Mukhi kochu, Gura kochu, Kuri kochu, Chhora kochu, Duli kochu, Binni kochu. Leaves are showy, large, green, glabrous, triangular-ovate, 30-40 cm long and 20-26 cm wide. Petiole is thick and juicy and it can be almost equal to the height of the plant. New leaves grow from the rhizome. Neumerous small flowers are clustered on spadix inflorescence, covered with giant bract leaf, spathe; the spadix is three-fifths of the spathe. In initial stage the inflorescence is full...