Flora of Bangladesh

Keya or Fragrant screw-pine ( Pandanus odorifer , family: Pandanaceae) is a robust and erect shrub or small-sized tree, branching from different spots of the stem, found throughout the coastal regions of South and Southeast Asia, Australia and Polynesia. In Bangladesh this bushy and spiny plant can be seen in the sandy sea-shores and canal-side areas of Bangladesh. It is found abundantly in St. Martin's Island. Nowadays the palm-like tree is cultivated in different spots of Chattogram. The tree can attain a height of 4-5 m.  The trunk of the tree is supported by brace roots. Trunk is slender and brown with many rounded scars and thick spines. The stem and branches are quite creepy looking, though the drooping leaves are eye-catching indeed. The flowers are strong-scented and the fruits are quite interesting to look at. Wood is very soft inside and quite hard outside.  Other names: Keya kanta, Kewra (Bangla), Keya kathal, Keteki phul (Assamese), Ketaki (Sans), Large screw pi...

Soborjala or Climbing Croton ( Croton caudatus , family: Euphorbiaceae) is a stout bushy vine, can be up to 25 meters in length and the stem can be get 4 cm in diameter. But in most places it usually does not grow more than 2 meters and exists as a small scandent shrub. Branches are slender and stout. The plant smells a bit like Black pepper (Piper nigrum). Young shoots covered with short and large stellate hairs.   It is found mainly in Gajipur, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Chattogram and Chattogram Hill Tracts. Outside of Bangladesh, it is found in the Indian subcontinent, China and some countries in South and Southeast Asia. The bushy climber can live up to 10 years approximately. Local names : Nanvantui, Nanbhantur. Leaves are entire, narrowly to broadly ovate, 5-9 cm long , 2-6 cm wide, petiole .5-2.5 cm long with densly stellate hairs, irregularly dentate or crenate-dentate, hairy to subglabrous on both sides, obtuse or acute at the end. Midrib and main veins stellate-h...