Flora of Bangladesh

Kuchila or Nux-vomica ( Strychnos nux-vomica , family: Loganiaceae) is a medium-sized evergreen tree with profuse branches, attaining a height of 15 m. Bark is grey, smooth and thin. Branchlets are  arranged oppositely. It is mainly found in Sylhet and Chattogram Hill Tracts in Bangladesh. In addition, it can be found scattered all over the country. Other names:  Vomiting nut, Strychnine tree, Poison nut tree, Snake wood. Leaves are elliptic, small, 5-8 cm long, short-petioled, opposite; veins 5, clearly visible.  Flowers are small, tubular, 1-1.5 cm long, greenish white, on umbel inflorescence, bad smelling. The bisexual flowers bloom in spring.  Fruit is globose, 4-5 cm in diameter, orange-colored, tastes bittter. The outer shell of the fruit is quite hard, pulp white and soft. Seeds 2-8, poisonous; flat, button-like, hard, whitish grey, hairy. The fruits hang on the tree for a long time. These ripen mainly in winter. The plant is propagated by seeds.  A homeopathic medicine called

Murba or Snake plant ( Dracaena trifasciata , family: Asparagaceae) is an annual rhizomatous herb without stem. It is one of the most attractive ornamental plants to gardeners that can grow with very little care. The leafy plant is drought tolerant and native to West Africa. As an ornamental plant it is found in gardens, medicinal gardens, parks, offices and road islands in Bangladesh. Other names:  Shutahar, Ghora-chokkro (Bang), Mother-in-law's tongue (Eng). Leaves are long, twisted, thick, stiff, sword-like, 60-90 cm long and 4-6 cm wide, criss-crossed with numerous black and white stripes. A attractive variegated cultivar which is called Laurentii has yellow-colored edges and numerous black stripes.  Flowers are greenish white, scented, clustered on long raceme inflorescence, bisexual. These bloom in spring. Fruits are globose, berry, red or orange, 1-3 seeded. These ripen in the rainy season. Propagation is caused by cutting of leaves and rhizome division.  It is used in bre

Kanaidinga or Indian trumpet flower ( Oroxylum indicum , family: Bignoniaceae) is a small-sized deciduous tree with ruddy violet stem, attaining a height of 8-10 m. Trunk and branches are glabrous. Bark is soft and thick, brown-colored. It is found almost all over the country including hilly forests of Chattogram division and Sylhet division and the shal forests of Bangladesh. It is also found in the Southeast regions of Asia.   Other names: Shona (Bang), Indian caper, Broken bones, Midnight horror (Eng); Kotombhar, Priyajeeb, Dirghabrintak, Pitapadap (Sans). Leaves are compound, very large, 1.5 to 2 meters long. Interestingly, its leaves are not only bipinante but also tri-pinnate too. Because sometimes the third rachis holds 3 Leaflets. Leaflets lanceolate, 8-10 cm long and 2-7 cm wide, rounded or slightly cordate at the base, apex pointed, short petioled. New foliage appears on the tree at the end of winter. Night-blooming flowers are  bell-shaped, quite large, pale yellow, petal

Kalobashok or Blue sage ( Eranthemum pulchellum , family: Acanthaceae) is a woody shrub with thick branches, with a height of 1-1.5 m. Stem and branches are quadrangular. The color of the flowers is stunning blue. The astonishing abundance of gentian blue has the power to amaze anyone. It can be one of the top picks for decoration of tropical gardens. It is mainly found in Indian subcontinent as well as some countries of Southeast Asia.  Other names: Muralipata (Bang), Blue eranthemum (Eng). Leaves are deep green, opposite, Midrib and veins are clearly visible. Sometimes veins are from same point, which is rare characteristic in plant world, ovate-elliptic, 10-15 cm long, tip pointed, edge dented, sometimes undulated. Petals 5. Propagation of the plant is caused by cuttings.  Tubular flowers are light blue, showy, tube 2.5 cm long, lobes 5. Cup-like sepal is 5-lobed. Flowers bloom at the top of long terminal inflorescence (8-16 cm) with bracts. The overlapping bracts are basically g

Ram- bashok or Titaphul ( Phlogacanthus thyrsiformis , family: Acanthaceae) is a perennial erect shrub with large leaves and few branches, attaining a height of 2.5 m. Main stem and branches are quadrangular. It is found at the forest edges of hilly areas of Bangladesh. It is also found in the Indian subcontinent and some countries of Southeast Asia. It can be planted as an ornamental flower in parks and gardens for its dazzling flowers. Leaves are simple, large, lanceolate, 7-20 cm long and 6-8 cm wide, acute at both ends, dark green, petioled, opposite. Upright inflorescence is terminal with many beautiful orange-colored flowers, 12-30 cm long. Flowers are funnel-shaped, 4-4.5 cm long. Flowers bloom in the spring.  Fruit is capsule, 3 cm long, seeds 12-14. Propagation of the plant is caused by seeds. It is used in common cold, fever, asthma, and skin diseases and rheumatism. Its flowers are used as an antidote to pox. Flowers are eaten as vegetable somewhere.  Synonym: Justicia t

Khejur or Indian date ( Phoenix sylvestris , Arecaceae) is a tall and erect tree with full of thorns, attaining a height of 15-16 m. Its rounded trunk is full of innumerable scales. Extraordinary winged leaves and long trunk have made the tree a beautiful palm tree. It is truly an extraordinary palm. It is found almost everywhere in Bangladesh. It is originated in Indian subcontinent. As an ornamental tree, it can be planted on the side of roads, in the garden and parks.  Other names: Wild date palm, Silver date palm, Sugar date palm.  Leaves are big, pinnate, 3 m long, Leaf blade 15-20 cm long, 3 cm wide, very acute at the end. Rachis holds very acute thorns that arise from leaf axil. This is the effort of the tree to protect the flowers and fruits in adverse conditions. Female and male flowers are in separate trees. Male flowers are in smaller inflorescence than females, white, scented‍. Female flowers whitish green in longer inflorescence. The flowers are covered with big sheath-

Bandorhola or Ramdalu ( Duabanga grandiflora , family: Lythraceae) is a large evergreen or semi-deciduous tree with dwarf drooping branches and erect trunk. The tree can grow up to 45 meters tall. It can be easily identified from other trees in the forest by its innumerable hanging branches. It is mostly found in Sylhet, Chattogram and Chattogram Hill Tracts. It is also found in several countries in Southeast Asia, especially Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and the Andaman Islands. Other names: Bandormula, Kocha, Lampati. Leaves are big, dark green, coriaceous (leathery), oblong, cordate at base, 15-30 cm long and 7-12 cm wide, glabrous, opposite. Flowers are big, white, 5-8 cm across, having unpleasant odor borne on drooping branches, stamens many. Sepals 5, green and thick; petals 5, wrinkled, short-lasting. Flowering occurs in spring. Fruit is globose capsule, coriaceous, about 8 cm wide, with many seeds. It is edible to local people. The tree is propgated by seeds.   As the ti

Tilok pana or  Floating fern ( Salvinia natans , family: Salviniaceae) is a aquatic herb which floates on water, 1-3 cm in length. Actually it is an annual water fern. The good-looking fern grows well in stagnant water with the support of humid air and wide daylight. It is found throughout the tropical regions of the world. Other names: Ulki pana (Bang); Floating watermoss, Floating moss, Water butterfly wings (Eng). It has two leaves, which float on the water. Another leaf that is half-floating acts as root. Its leaves have a special layer to keep the process of photosynthesis from excess sunlight and to prevent it from rotting in water. As ferns reproduce through their spores, so does this plant.  It is found in canals, beels and ditches in Bangladesh along with Kochuri-pana , Topapana , Khudipana  and other aquatic plants. This aquatic fern is also a refuge for small fish.