Flora of Bangladesh

Beguni hurhuri or Spider flower ( Cleome houtteana,  family: Capparaceae) is a perennial herb with glandular and sticky stem and few branches, attaining a height of 1.5 m. It is cultivated in gardens for decorative flowers. The erect plant is found abundantly in fallow lands of Sylhet. It is originated in tropical America. Other names:  Hurhuri, Swiss phul, Jhorna phul; Spider plant (Eng). Leaves are palmately compound; leaflets 5-7, lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, Middle one is about 5 cm long, long petioled, about 6 cm, having a pair of short spine-like stipules at base. Flowers are bright violet, racemes, terminal inflorescence, 30-40 cm long. Sepals 4, petals 4. Flowering occurs in winter.  Fruit is capsule, elongated-cyllindrical, 5-9 cm long, many seeded. The plant is propagated by seeds. Leaves are used in insect poisoning and seeds in stomach disorder and intestinal worm. Synonyms: Cleome spinosa, Cleome pungens, Cleome hasslerana  

Khudi pana  or  Minute duckweed  ( Lemna perpusilla , family: Araceae) is a free floating aquatic herb with cylindrical root sheath, found in pond, beel-jheel, ditches, cannals as well as all stagnant water bodies in Bangladesh. The flowering plant can be found in almost all parts of the world except deserts and polar regions. Other name : Kuti pana The leaves or fronds are ovate-obovate, green in color, ‍slightly slippery, asymmetric, blunt or acute at the both ends, each has single root. It propagates through buds. Flowers of the perennial are not often seen. Spadix inflorescence consists of 2 male and 1 female flowers. Flowering occurs in summer. Fruit is asymmetric, ellipsoid. Seed has many longitudinal ribs.  It is used as poultry food. It is also a favorite food of fish. The interesting fact is, it keeps the water clean. The presence of this beautiful herb will enhance the beauty of the aquatic garden, no doubt. In many countries it is considered as weed of crop land.

Tokma or Pignut ( Hyptis suaveolens , family: Lamiaceae) is an annual herb with woody stem and profuse branches, attaining a height of 2 m. The whole body of the plant is filled with strong odor and minute hairs. It smells like Tulsi and is called Gonga tulsi or Bilati tulsi. The stem and branches are usually round but quadrangular when young. It is easily identifiable for its many characteristics.  Other names:  Tokmari, Gonga tulsi, Bilati tulsi; Chonga dana (Chakma).  The plant is not indigenous, but it has adapted very well to the country's condition. That is why it is found in the hilly area, as well as in fallow lands and along roadsides of the plains. The plant is indigenous to tropical America. Leaves are odorous, hairy, giving a velvety feel. The size and shape of the leaves vary. Its shape can be round, but most of the time it is quite triangular with cordial base; 2-12 cm long and 2-8 cm wide, with deep and irregularly toothed edges. Petiole is long.  Flowers are tiny,

Khet papra or Carpet-weed ( Oldenlandia corymbosa , family: Molluginaceae) is an annual herb with profuse branches, of about 30 cm height. It likes to lie on the ground after getting a little bigger in size. Its branches are usually smooth but occasionally hairy. Leaves are linear-oblong, 1-2 cm long. As a very common plant it is found in abundance in fallow lands, land isles and gardens in Bangladesh. It is also found in the South Asian countries. Flowers are tiny, pure white on umbel inflorescence, sepals 4, petals 4. Flower blooms in January-February. Fruit is round. When the fruit ripens, it looks a lot like Coriander. Fruiting and flowering occurs from monsoon to winter. Propagation of the plant is caused by seeds.  It is used to purify blood, relieve pain, quench thirst, destroy worm and eradicate cough and cold. It is also stomachic. It is eaten as vegetable somewhere.