Barringtonia asiatica (Lecythidaceae), a new record for the flora of Bangladesh

Abstract

INTRODUCTION The genus Barringtonia Schott is represented by two species in Bangladesh : Barringtonia acutangula (L.) Gaertn. and Barringtonia racemosa (L.) Spreng. (Ahmed et al. 2009). During a trip to Saint Martin’s Island, the author found a flowering tree along the fallow land field near to water and the plant specimens with flower has been collected. Further, photographs has been sent to regional plant expert (Drs. Tapas Chakrabarty and and J. M. Garg) and finally examined as Barringtonia asiatica (L.) Kurz., which is previously not reported from any scientific literature of Bangladesh. Hence, the species Barringtonia asiatica (L.) Kurz is new record for Bangladesh. The local people informed that the fruits are spread by floating at sea.