Shotomuli or Shatawari (Asparagus racemosus, family: Asparagaceae) Is a perennial creeping shrub with numerous branches. The spectacular bushy and extensive shrub is thorny. Sometimes thorne is about 1-3 cm long. It can extend far beyond by holding something. The plant has a large number of whitish tubers. For this reason in Bangla, it is called as Shotomuli (the plant of numerous roots).
Other names: Bohumula, Keshika, Shoto-netrika, Tejbolli, Modhura, Climbing asparagus (Eng).
It is a renowned herbal plant of Indian subcontinent. This is much appreciated in ancient Ayurveda. It is found mainly in the Sal forest of Modhupur and the Swamp forest of Ratargul, Sylhet in Bangladesh. It is also found in India and Sri Lanka.
Leaves are bright green, linear, those are called cladophyll. Cladophyll is leaf-like tiny branches. During the winter all its leaves fall off.
Raceme inflorescence bears many small and whitish flowers. Petals 5. Flowering occurs in autumn.
Fruits are pea-like, red, scented, 1-2-seeded. Propagation of the plant is caused by seeds and rhizomes.
It is a plant of various medicinal quality. Rhizome is used to reduce weakness and increase breast milk. It is also used in gonorrhea, strangury and for nocturnal emission. Stem is often used for decoration purposes.
The shape of leaves and branches are quite aesthetic. It is planted in medicinal corner of a botanical garden or park. It is also planted as an ornamental shrub in the personal garden too.
Makal or Mahakal ( Trichosanthes tricuspidata , family: Cucurbitaceae) is a woody climber with tendril and branches, attaining a height of 10-12 m. The multiangular-branched plant climbs up very far by holding any tree in the forest. It is found in the hilly areas as well as plain forests and village thickets in Bangladesh. It is also found in Indian subcontinent, Australia and some countries of South and Southeast Asia. According to ancient Sanskrit scriptures the other names of the plant are Bishala, Mohendro-baruni. In the Himalayas it has been seen at an altitude of 5000 feet. There are many refferences to the fruit in Bangla and Sanskrit literature. Someone is very nice to look at but he/she is useless--writers usually jokingly give examples of this fruit. Its roots and attractive fruits are packed with medicinal properties. The size and shape of leaves may vary. These are multilobed or trilobed, alternate, rough in both sides, 5-12 cm long, petioled, cor
Kodbel or Elephant wood apple ( Feronia limonia , family: Rutaceae) is medium-sized fruit-giving tree with straight trunk and numerous branches. Bark is dark grey. It has straight spines in axil. Some parts of the tree are quite fragrant--leaves, ripe fruits, seeds etc. The tree is planted as ornamental one in parks and gardens nowadays in Bangladesh. It is planted in the country as a homestead tree too. Other Bangla names: Koyetbel, Chirpaki. Leaflet is small, 5-7, and 3-4 cm wide, opposite, cuneate or obovate. Leaves are scented. Flowers are good-looking, showy. Those are reddish; calyx 5-lobbed, triangular; petals ovate. Male and female flowers can be seen in the same panicle. Flower blooms in March-April. Fruit is round, greenish white or ye l l o w is h w h ite at a glance, 8-10 cm in diameter. Skin is very hard but fragile. The pulp is fleshy and soft. Raw pulp is light brown, ripe is deep chocholate or yelowish brown. The ripe fruit is qu
Kulekhara or Talmakhna ( Hygrophila auriculata , family: Acanthaceae) is a stout and erect herb with straight and undivided stem. The spiny plant is very popular as a medicinal plant in Bangladesh as well as the Indian subcontinent. Other names: Kulekkha, Kuiley-rekha, Kanta kalika, Shoolmordon. Leaves are lanceolate, subsessile, acute at both ends with long whitish hairs, dense with straight and stout thorns that grow from each node. Outer leaves are longer than the inner ones. Both leaves and thorns remain in upward direction. Flowers in axillary whorls. They are bright violet or bluish purple and red, sometimes whitish with soft and minor hair, corolla 2-lipped. Flower blooms in the winter. Fruit a capsule, 4-8-seeded. Seeds are ovoid (not in the pic). The body of the plant contains alkaloids, phytosterols, stigmasterol, lupeol and essential oils. Its seeds contain oil, enzymes and sterols. The plant is cooling and diuretic in cases of h