Radhachura Ful(রাধাচূড়া ফুল) - Caesalpinia pulcherrima

কৃষ্ণ চূড়া আমাদের একটা ফুল আগে থেকেই আছে, সেই সাথে আছে রাধা চূড়া ফুলও... কিন্তু দুইটা ফুল দেখতে হুবহু একই রকম হওয়াতে আমরা খুব সহজেই একে আলাদা করতে পারিনা... কিন্তু সামান্য লক্ষ্য করলেই কিন্তু এদেরকে সনাক্ত করা খুব সহজ হয়... রাধাচূড়া ফুলের গাছ ছোট আকারের হয়, আর রং হয় হলুদ, লাল... অনেক সময় একই গাছে লাল হলুদ দুই রঙের ফুলই দেখা যায়... অন্য দিকে কৃষ্ণচূড়া ফুলের গাছ অনেক বড় আকারের হয়... ফুলের রংটাও হয় টকটকে লাল, আর এক সাথে সমস্ত গাছে অনেক ফুল আসে... রাধাচূড়া গাছে ফুল আসে অনেক কম(হাতে গোনা যাবে এমন)...



This flower is almost similar to the Krishna Chura Ful(কৃষ্ণচূড়া ফুল). The main difference of this flower with Krishnachura is, its basically a shrubby type of plant and the flowers are having either yellow or red, or both at the same tree. Botanical name of this flowering plant is Caesalpinia pulcherrima from the plant family Caesalpiniaceae (Gulmohar family).



This ornamental flowering plant is having several common names, such as peacock flower, Pride of Barbados, Dwarf poinciana, etc. In our country Bangladesh, we call this as RadhaChura Ful(রাধাচূড়া ফুল). This plant is native to Madagascar. Its a shrubby type of plant and can grow upto three meter in height. Leafs are bipinnate and small. Flowers are in cluster and the color is yellow and red. You can see the both color at the same tree often. Flowers are having noticeably long stamens.



This is an ornamental flowering plant and widely seen at the roadside and parks for beautification. While going from Gulshan to Banani, you'll find lot of this plant beside the road(just before the bridge). Photos of this article were taken from Banani/Gulshan at May 2012.

Neel Nishinda(নীল নিশিন্দা) - Vitex trifolia

আমাদের বাংলায় নিশিন্দা নামে একটা ঔষধি গাছ আছে... কিন্তু আজকের গাছটার নাম নীল নিশিন্দা, যেইটাকে অনেকে আবার সাগর নিশিন্দাও বলে থাকে... এর কারণ হলো সমুদ্রের পার্শবর্তী এলাকাতে এই গাছের বিচরণ অহরহ দেখা যায়... গাছটা সম্পর্কে আমার খুব বেশি জানাশুনা নাই... সেন্ট মার্টিন বেড়াতে যাবার সময় প্রথম দেখলাম... কারো কাছে যদি তথ্য থেকে থাকে, শেয়ার করুন... বিশেষ করে ঔষধি গুনের কথা যদি কেউ জেনে থাকেন...!



I have never seen this plant before. First time saw it at the St Martin's Island of Bangladesh. The whole island is blessed with this medicinal plant. This use to grow around the coastal area. This is the reason to call it as Coastal Vitex, in Bangladesh which is Sagar Nishinda(সাগর নিশিন্দা). Sagar means Sea in Bengali. This is native to East Africa, but interestingly, widely available at our Coastal territory.



Botanical name of this plant is Vitex trifolia. It belongs to the plant family Lamiaceae. Common names of this wild flower are Arabian Lilac, Coastal Vitex, Chaste Tree, etc. In Bangladesh, it is known as Neel Nishinda(নীল নিশিন্দা), Sagar Nishinda(সাগর নিশিন্দা), etc.



Flower blooms as cluster and the color is violet(sometimes purple). It has two lipped petals(corollas) and two pair of stamens. Flower has slightly hairy stuffs at the upper side. Leafs are normally tri-foliate, but simple leafs are seen at the same plant. Upper face of the leaf is bright green where the other side is dull/grayish green. I have seen this plant is having lush green leafs, but expert says this plant is deciduous.

সামুদ্রিক কোরালের পাশে নীল নিশিন্দার গাছ

This is normally a small sized shrubby plant, but can be seem more than two meters in height sometimes. This plant grows well in dry and sandy condition. Roots are capable of holding the sands easily around it. For it's sand binding ability, this is considered as sand-establishing species. This plant has several medicinal uses, but right now I can not remember those.



Photos of this article were taken from St Martin's Island of Bangladesh. I was traveling there during January 2012.

ফুলের জন্য ভালবাসা, আমি বুনো ফুল...

Lobster claw - Heliconia rostrata

Flower name is Heliconia, and is the most common flower from the plant family Heliconiaceae (heliconia family). This is mainly native to South America, more specifically to Peru and Ecuador. It has several names, such as Hanging Lobster, Lobster Claw, Bird of Paradise(some people says False Bird of Paradise), etc. Botanical name of this beautiful flower is Heliconia rostrata. Heliconia doesn't have any suitable name in our mother tongue Bangla.



Heliconia plant grows around 6-8 ft tall. Leafs are almost similar to the Banana leafs. Flowers are downwards pendent inflorescence with red/yellowish bracts. Each flower is full with plenty of water and nectar for the birds and insects. The shape of the flower reassembles the claw of lobster. Also it looks like the beaked of the parrot. Thats why this flower is having those names.



The hard shelled bracts of this flower is giving it a long term durability which just allow it to hang on the tree for a longer period of time without changing color or faded away. Though its a foreign ornamental flowering plant, but now a days this is seen at the parks, front yard, road side often.

Flowers have plenty of nectar for insects and birds.

Photos of this article were taken from Banani of Dhaka during May 2012.

Oporajita Ful(অপরাজিতা ফুল) - Clitoria ternatea

Oporajita is a strikingly attractive deep blue colored flower from the Fabaceae (pea family). Its common names are Butterfly Pea, Blue Pea, etc. Botanical/scientific name is Clitoria ternatea. This plant is native to tropical part of Asia, but widely available at other regions. In our country, we call this as Oporajita Ful(অপরাজিতা ফুল).



We use this plant as an ornamental for its beautiful flower. Though most of the time blue one is seen, but the white colored flowers are available too. Plant is twining climbing vine. We use this at the gates, fences, walls, etc for decorating purpose. This is a perennial herbaceous vine having elliptical leafs.



The nomenclature of this flower is related with the human anatomy. Roughly the flower reassembles the upper part of female gentile. That's why the botanists picked the genus as Clitoria.



Photos of this article were taken from Netrokona(2011), and Dhaka(2012).

Madhu Maloti(মধু মালতী) - Quisqualis indica

এই ফুলের অনেক নাম, মধুমালতী, মাধুরী লতা, মধু মঞ্জুরী, প্রভৃতি... একই ফুলের আবার রংও হয় অনেক... লাল, সাদা, হালকা গোলাপী... ফুলের সামনের দিকটা লালচে হয় আর ওপর পাশের, মানে পেছনের দিকটা হয় সাদাটে মতন... লতানো এই ফুলের গাছকে আমরা বাড়ীর সামনের দরজায় সৌন্দর্য বাড়ানোর জন্য লাগিয়ে থাকি... থোকায় থোকায় ফুল হয়, আর একটু মিষ্টি গন্ধ থাকে সাথে... প্রায় সারা বছরই এই গাছে ফুল হয়...



Botanical name of this flower is Quisqualis indica. It pertains to the plant family Combretaceae. There are several local names available for this flower at our country Bangladesh, such as Madhuri Lota(মাধুরী লতা), Modhu Monjori(মধু মঞ্জুরী), Modhu Maloti(মধু মালতী), etc. English name is Rangoon Creeper. This flowering plant is native to India.



Madhuri Lota(মাধুরী লতা) is a vine like twining climber ornamental flowering plant. We use to plant this near the gate to decorate it. Leafs are elliptical and other side is rough and having texture on it. The plant can grow very fast without any proper care. Apart from the gate, we also use this plant at fence.



The same plant brings three different color of flowers starting from red to rosy and white. Front face of the flower is reddish/pinkish and the other side is slightly faded color. Flower comes as a cluster and use to hang downwards from the vine. The tubular flowers are having a long shaft/base that holds the flower from the vine. It has a sweet fragrance.



Basically we use Madhu Maloti(মধু মালতী) as an ornamental flowering plant. But it has several medicinal uses like other plants in nature.



Photos of this article were initially taken from Gulshan, during May 2012. But few of the photos later added which were taken from Rajshahi, during June 2012.

References:
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quisqualis_indica
[2] http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Rangoon%20Creeper.html

Swarna Lota Ful(স্বর্ণ লতা ফুল) - Cuscuta reflexa

এই প্রথম আমি আমার ব্লগে পরজীবী কোনো গাছের ফুল নিয়ে লিখছি... আজকের ফুলের নাম স্বর্ণ লতার ফুল... এইটার অনেক নাম আছে, যেমন আলোক লতা, স্বর্ণলতিকা, আকাশ বল্লী, প্রভৃতি... পরগাছা এই গাছ অন্য গাছকে পেঁচিয়ে বেড়ে উঠে... মজার ব্যাপার হলো, এই গাছের কোনো মূল বা কান্ড নাই... শুধু মাত্র লতা, যা অন্য গাছ কে পেছিয়ে থাকে, আর সেই আশ্রয় দাতা গাছ থেকে রস শুষে নিয়ে বৃদ্ধি পেতে থাকে... চিকন চিকন এই লতার রং হলুদ হয়... এর জন্যই নাম স্বর্ণলতা... অপ্রয়োজনীয় একটা গাছ, আবার যেই গাছ একে আশ্রয় দেয় সেই গাছকেও মেরে ফেলে অনেক সময়... তার পরও আমার কাছে এইটা দেখতে অনেক সুন্দর লাগে... সবাই আমরা এর লতাই দেখেছি, ফুল খুব কমই দেখার সৌভাগ্য হয়... আজকে এখানে কিছু ফুলের ছবি দিয়ে দিলাম...



আলোক লতা নিয়ে একটা গানের মধ্যে বাউল আধ্যাতিক কথা বলেছেন, আমি গানের সেই লাইনটা তুলে দিলাম নীচে... দেখি কেউ বলতে পারে কিনা এই গানের প্রথম লাইন কি ছিল... :-)

পীরিতি জগ-ডুমুরের ফুল, ও সে আলোক লতার মূল...
সন্ধান না জানতে পারলে, জীবের পক্ষে ভুল...

This is an interesting parasitic plant named as Dodder in English. In our country Bangladesh, we call this as Swarna Lota(স্বর্ণলতা), Alok Lota(আলোক লতা), Swarna lotika(স্বর্ণলতিকা), etc. Botanical name of this plant is Cuscuta reflexa. It belongs to the plant family Convolvulaceae (Morning glory family). I have only seen the yellow/golden Dodder in my life. But other part of the world having this in different colors. In Hindi, this is called as Amar bel (meaning, immortal vine). Another interesting name is Devil's hair as it cover the whole part of the host plant slowly.



Dodder is a leafless twined sprawling vine like parasitic plant. Usually it grows over a host plant, and use to suck life from the host. This plant doesn't have any stems or roots. Only the thin vines. It produces lot of branches which can easily cover the host very short period of time. This is a noxious weed, and should be eradicated before it spawn in a large scale.



The flowers are small and having a bell shape. Very small flower of the Dodder plants are white in color having yellow filaments. It produces fruits and seeds from the flower. But my question is, as it does not have any roots or stems, then what are the uses of the seeds? Can I grow this plant from the seeds? Though I know this plant use to propagate easily from the vine easily.

Photos of this article were taken from near the place of Gulshan-Banani(গুলশান-বনানী) Bridge of Dhaka, during May 2012.

ফুলের জন্য ভালবাসা, আমি বুনো ফুল...

Dalim Ful(ডালিম ফুল) - Punica granatum

Common Name :	Pomegranate.
Bengali Name :	Dalim(ডালিম), Bedana(বেদনা), Anar(আনার).
Botanical Name :	Punica granatum
Family :	Lythraceae

আজকের ফুল ডালিম... সাধারণত ফলের জন্যই এই ডালিম বিখ্যাত... ফুল হয় উজ্জল কমলা থেকে টকটকে লাল রং পর্যন্ত... ছোট বেলায় কবিতায় পড়েছি ডালিম নিয়ে... যদিও কবি বলেছিল ডালিম গাছে মৌ, কিন্তু এত ছোট গাছে মৌমাছি কিভাবে চাক বাধবে সেইটা এখনো চিন্তার বিষয়... ডালিমের ভেতরে দেখতে মৌমাছির চাকের মতন সাজানো... হয়তো এইটা দেখেই কবি মৌচাকের সাথে ডালিমকে মিশিয়ে ছোটদের জন্য কবিতাটি লিখেছিল... অথবা মৌমাছি ডালিম ফুলের মধু সংগ্রহ করতে এসেছিলো, সেইটাও একটা কারন হতে পারে...

আতা গাছে তোতা পাখি, ডালিম গাছে মৌ
এত ডাকি তবু কথা কয়না কেন বউ?

Its a bright orange to red colored flower. Name of the plant is Pomegranate. In our country Bangladesh(বাংলাদেশ), we call this Dalim(ডালিম). Botanical name of the plant is Punica granatum from the plant family Lythraceae(some people says Punicaceae (pomegranate Family)). This is famous for its delicious fruit instead of the flower. Even you'll find millions of people who love this fruit, but never knows the color of the flower yet. This tasty fruit is native to Iran, Iraq(later dispersed throughout the world, and widely found at our sub continental territory).

Plant is a small(sometime semi medium) sized, and never seen to grow large. It shows multiple stems often. Leafs of this plant are slim and thin with a lovely glossy foliage. Young leafs are coffee colored instead of green. Fruits are round shape and having lot of nicely arranged small crunchy seeds covered with juicy pulps. Color of those pulps are somewhere magenta and transparent.

You are reading the updated article. Initial photos for this article were taken from Baddda, Dhaka(বাড্ডা, ঢাকা) during May 2012. But later I found few better photos which were captured from the Botanical garden of Agricultural University at Mymensingh(ময়মনসিংহ) during March 2013.


ডালিম নিয়ে একটা অশ্লীল ধাঁধা আছে... এখানে দিতে পারলাম না বলে দুঃখিত... কারো যদি খুব জানার আগ্রহ থাকলে নিচে ইমেইল এড্রেস লিখে দাও... মেইল করে দিবো...

Tamrachura(তাম্র চূড়া ফুল) - Blumea lacera

Its a very fast growing herbaceous weed plant that grows all around the Bangladesh. Botanical name of the weed plant is Blumea lacera. It is native to Indian territory, so didn't find any suitable English name of the plant. It belongs to the plant family Asteraceae(Sunflower family).



Plant is an annual herb and grows up to several centimeters long. Stem of this plant is hairy, so does the leaf. The whole plant is having a pungent smell, specially when squeezed(leafs are thick, and produces a handful of juices if you do).



Flowers are bright yellow in color. After blooming several days prominently, the yellow spike like portion of the flower just turns into grey/white in color which just give the flower a ball shape(kind of an old man having white hairs at head). To me, this state of this flower seems more attractive than initial one. This is similar to the thistle flower. But I am not sure whether these hairy things can fly like thistle or not.



This weed plant is unwanted. But still it deserves a good name. So far I have found, its local names are Kukurmuta(কুকুর মুতা), Kukursunga(কুকুর শুঙ্গ), Jangli Muli(জংলি মুলী), etc. I am not sure why people gave such weird names!! It doesn't not have any relation with dog(so far I know). Does the sharp odor can be the reason for such nomenclature? It has a nice name in Hindi which is Tamrachura(তাম্র চূড়া ফুল).



Both the leaf and the root of this plant are having medical uses such as for fever, soothing burning, disease of mouth, and plenty of more.



Photos of this article were taken from St Martin's Island of Bangladesh. I was traveling there during January 2012.

ফুলের জন্য ভালবাসা, আমি বুনো ফুল