Flora of Bangladesh

Shotomuli or Shatawari (Asparagus racemosus , family: Asparagaceae) Is a perennial creeping shrub with numerous branches. The spectacular bushy and extensive shrub is thorny. Sometimes thorne is about 1-3 cm long. It can extend far beyond by holding something. The plant has a large number of whitish tubers. For this reason in Bangla, it is called as Shotomuli (the plant of numerous roots).   Other names:  Bohumula, Keshika, Shoto-netrika, Tejbolli, Modhura, Climbing asparagus (Eng). It is a renowned herbal plant of Indian subcontinent. This is much appreciated in ancient Ayurveda. It is found mainly in the Sal forest of Modhupur and the Swamp forest of Ratargul, Sylhet in Bangladesh. It is also found in India and Sri Lanka. Leaves are bright green, linear, those are called cladophyll. Cladophyll is leaf-like tiny branches. During the winter all its leaves fall off. Raceme inflorescence bears many small and whitish flowers. Petals 5. Flowering occurs in a

Lungichor or Running Mountain Grass ( Oplismenus compositus , family: Poaceae) is a perennial grass with spectacular leaves and inflorescence, attaining a height of 20-120 cm. It trails on ground by growing roots from the hairy nodes.  It is found in the  tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, South America and Australia. It is found in shady and damp places of forest in Bangladesh. Leaves are green, hairy, lanceolate-ovate, 3-12 cm long, pointed apex, sessile, undulate. Flowering occurs in the autumn to late autumn. Raceme inflorescence 10-25 cm long. Lower florets are barren, Upper florets bisexual. Fruits are linear, tiny. When spikelets become dry, they try to touch passing animals and this way they complete the  propagation. The leaves of the plant are beautiful. So it can be planted in gardens, parks and road islands. Gohur is the another Bangla name of the plant.