Plants of West Bengal

Amaltas अमलतास Cassia fistula Yellow chandeliers in May, when the city most needs something to look at. Amaranth चौलाई Amaranthus tricolor The monsoon green that grows itself — heat-proof, rain-proof, ready in a month. Arabian Jasmine मोगरा Jasminum sambac A pot by an open window does more for a summer evening than any air freshener. Areca Nut सुपारी Areca catechu Slim palm of the wet south-west and north-east, grown in dense stands. Areca Palm सुपारी Areca catechu The slender betel-nut palm of the wet coasts, grown in dense shaded gardens. Arjun अर्जुन Terminalia arjuna A riverbank giant with pale bark — a campus or park tree, not a pot. Arjuna अर्जुन Terminalia arjuna A riverbank giant with pale bark — a tree for a campus or a colony park, not a… Ash Gourd पेठा Benincasa hispida The big white-waxed gourd of the south, stored for months after harvest. Ashoka अशोक Saraca asoca Orange flower clusters straight off the trunk — a sacred tree, now threatened. Ashoka Tree सीता अशोक Saraca asoca The true ashoka — orange flower clusters on a small shade-loving tree of wet forest. Assam Lemon कागजी नेमु Citrus limon var. The thin-skinned Assam lemon, fragrant enough to scent a whole kitchen. Bael बेल Aegle marmelos A slow, tough native tree for a hot courtyard, with fruit that makes the summer sherbet. Baheda बहेड़ा Terminalia bellirica The third triphala fruit, from a broad-crowned tree of dry deciduous forest. Balsam गुलमेहंदी Impatiens balsamina A monsoon annual of verandah pots, with seed pods children cannot leave alone. Bamboo बांस Bambusa balcooa The fastest usable material on earth; one clump supplies poles for years. Bamboo Shoot Species बांस करील Dendrocalamus hamiltonii The north-eastern shoot bamboo — fermented shoots are a regional staple. Banana केला Musa acuminata A single sucker in a corner gives shade, cooking leaves and, in time, fruit. Banyan बरगद Ficus benghalensis The tree that becomes a grove; only for parks, campuses and village greens. Bay Leaf Tree तेजपत्ता Cinnamomum tamala The tejpatta of the sub-Himalayan tract — three-veined leaves, straight off the tree. Betel Leaf पान Piper betle The paan vine — grown in shaded enclosures across Bengal and the east. Bhringraj भृंगराज Eclipta prostrata A low monsoon weed of wet ground, gathered for hair oil for as long as anyone remembers. Bhumi Amla भूमि आमला Phyllanthus niruri A tiny monsoon herb that appears in every wet pot, with fruit strung under the leaf. Bhut Jolokia भूत जोलोकिया Capsicum chinense The ghost chilli of Nagaland — a genuine regional speciality, and ferocious. Bilimbi बिलिम्बी Averrhoa bilimbi Sour fruit straight off the trunk, in constant supply on the wet coasts. Bitter Gourd करेला Momordica charantia A tough climber that fruits through the worst humidity of the year. Black Gram उड़द Vigna mungo A short monsoon pulse, sown between crops as much as for the dal. Bottle Gourd लौकी Lagenaria siceraria A monsoon climber that will roof a terrace in eight weeks given a frame. Bougainvillea बोगनवेलिया Bougainvillea glabra Thrives on being ignored — the more you neglect it, the harder it flowers. Brahmi ब्राह्मी Bacopa monnieri A creeping marsh herb happy in a wide bowl of wet soil — the one plant you cannot… Brinjal बैंगन Solanum melongena A long-season crop that rewards a big pot and steady feeding. Cashew काजू Anacardium occidentale A coastal tree that fruits on poor laterite where almost nothing else does. Casuarina सरू Casuarina equisetifolia The coastal shelterbelt tree of the east and south — fast and salt-proof. Cattail पटेरा Typha angustifolia Brown flower spikes over strap leaves; the reed that cleans a village pond. Champa चम्पा Plumeria rubra Grows from a bare cutting pushed into dry soil; scents a whole terrace. Champak चम्पा Magnolia champaca Orange-yellow flowers whose scent carries across a whole garden at dusk. Chinese Hibiscus गुड़हल Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Flowers nearly all year in a warm city, and sunbirds find it within a week. Clitoria अपराजिता Clitoria ternatea Blue butterfly pea — a light climber that fixes nitrogen and makes blue tea. Cluster Fig गूलर Ficus racemosa Figs in bunches straight off the trunk, feeding birds, bats and monkeys. Cockscomb लाल मुर्गा Celosia argentea Velvet crested heads that hold colour for weeks, in sun or half shade. Coconut नारियल Cocos nucifera The tree the coasts are built on — water, kernel, oil, thatch and shade. Colocasia अरबी Colocasia esculenta Big-leaved and happy in a wet corner; corms below, edible leaves above. Common Reed नरकुल Phragmites karka The tall reed of Indian riverbanks, and the standard plant for a reed-bed filter. Copper Pod पीला गुलमोहर Peltophorum pterocarpum Yellow flower spires and copper seed pods; the summer partner to the gulmohar. Coral Jasmine Vine कुंद Jasminum multiflorum A soft-haired jasmine that flowers through the cool months on a low wall. Coriander धनिया Coriandrum sativum Bolts in heat, thrives in the cool months. Sow every fortnight for a steady supply. Cowpea लोबिया Vigna unguiculata Pods, beans and green manure from one undemanding monsoon plant. Crepe Jasmine चांदनी Tabernaemontana divaricata Neat glossy shrub with pinwheel white flowers; the easiest good hedge there is. Cucumber खीरा Cucumis sativus Fast, thirsty and best trained up a net where air can move around it.