Shushni or Four-leaved clover, Marsilea minuta

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Shushni or 4-leaved clover (Marsilea minuta, family: Marsileaceae) is an annual creeping herb. It is an aquatic fern of Bangladesh, found floating in the water along with Water spinach, Alligator weed and many other aquatic plants during the monsoon season. In addition, it can be seen in waterside area or wet soil. Roots from each node of stem help the plant to creep on ground. It has spectacular four leaves in each stalk. As an ornamental aquatic plant it can be planted in water-tub or lakes and ponds of gardens. 


The geographical range of the plant is quite large. It is found throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world.


Leaves are light green, almost round, leaf blade (3-4 cm across) divided in to four parts. These are almost triangular or ovoid with rounded end. Petiole is narrow and long.


If it grows in wet or dry places, the edges of the leaves become dented. The length of the petiole ncreases as the water level rises.


As a non-flowering plant, it produces sporocarp, which works as seed. It can be propagated by stolons and sporocarps. The plant is stimulant, diuretic and narcotic. It is also used in the treatment of snakebite. There is a long tradition of using it as a vegetable in the Indian subcontinent.

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Shachi or Sessile joyweed ( Alternanthera sessilis , family: Amaranthaceae) is a creeping sub-aquatic herb with many branches, attaining a height of 10-35 cm. The branches are formed in pairs from the nodes of the stems. Sometimes it lies on the ground by forming roots from the stem axil.  Other names:  Chanchi, Phul heicha, Haiccha, Shati shak.  Stem is glabrous and usally green but sometimes reddish. Young shoots are minutely hairy. The plant grows near water bodies, in fallow lands, on roadside, even on old wall. It is found everwhere in Bangladesh. It is also found in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Leaves are green, sessile, elliptic-oblanceolate, opposite, 5-6 cm long and 2.5-3.5 cm wide, undulated and dented irregularly, tip rounded.  The inflorescence, round in shape and white in color arises from the leaf axil. These are much like Maloncho (Alligator weed) . Florets are sessile, petals 5. It blooms almost round the year. F
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Tomal or Mountain persimmon, Diospyros cordifolia

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Tomal  or  Mountain persimmon  ( Diospyros cordifolia,  family: Ebenaceae) is a deciduous small to medium-sized tree with spreading branches and blackish bark, sometimes thorny. This beautiful tree is native to Malaysia, Myanmar, Australia and is introduced to Bangladesh and other subcontinent countries. Not yellow, but black is the ripe fruit! Leaves are simple green, glabrous, petioled, alternate, lanceolate-cordate 5-10 cm long and 2-4 cm wide.  Flowers are small, whitish, with 4 petals. January-February is the flowering time. Male and female flowers usually grow singly from leaf axil while the male ones bloom in cluster on cyme inflorescence.  Poisonous fruit is berry, round,  fleshy  2.5 cm across. Half-matured fruits are ye llow and they turn purplish black when fully ripe. Propagation of the plant is caused by seeds. As a medicinal plant diospyros cordifolia is used in the treatment of fever, pneumonia and diarrhoea. Stout thorns
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