Brief description and images

1. Plants On My Rooftop
Series 1 Published : 19.08.2015
Srabani Majumder (Ghosal)
Tusar Kanti Ghosal
61, Sudhangshu Nagar
Cooch Behar Town -736101,
West Bengal, India
E mail: drtkghosal@gmail.com
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2. Flame-Violet, Episcia cupreata (Hook.) Hanst.
Family : Gesneriaceae
Bengali name : Bouful/'ব ৌ-ফু ল'
The leaves become scorched if they receive too much sunlight and
the plant can die if it receives too much water or too little air.
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3. Football Lily, Scadoxus multiflorus (Martyn) Raf.
Family: Amaryllidaceae (Nargis family)
Bengali name : Fireball
The genus Scadoxus has some strongly toxic species, containing poisonous
alkaloids lethal to animals, such as sheep and goats, that graze on the leaves
or bulbs.
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4. Dwarf Gonatanthus, Gonatanthus pumilus(D.Don) H.Li & A.Ha
Family: Araceae (Arum family)
Bengali : Gachkachu
A paste from the rhizome is applied on the chest for chest pain.
Juice from crushed leaves is used as an antibiotic for wounds in
humans and animals.

5. Peace lily Spathiphyllum wallisii Regel
Family: Araceae (arum family)
Bengali name : Shanti
Spathiphyllum is a genus of about 47 species. The NASA Clean Air Study
(NCAS) found that it cleans indoor air of certain environmental contaminants,
including benzene and formaldehyde. They can tolerate all types of light, but
will grow best with bright, indirect light. Peace lilies can also thrive under
fluorescent light, so they’re perfect for rooms that have little to no natural
light.
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6. Flamingo flower, Anthurium andraeanum Linden ex Andre
Family: Araceae (arum family)
Bengali name : Flemingo
It is a small and herbaceous evergreen plant which has attractive waxy red
spathe and dark green foliage, growing upright to 40 cm tall
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7. Perforated Philodendron, Rhaphidophora pertusa (Roxb.) Schott
Family: Araceae (Arum family)
Bengali name : Chiruni kochu
Aerial roots and leaves are used in healing bone
fractures, cuts and wounds.
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8. Dumb Cane, Dieffenbachia amoena
Family: Araceae (arum family)
Bengali name : Sabujbahar
Dieffenbachia amoena is considered an unresolved name. It is a very
popular and hardy shade-loving plant. Like any other Genus its sap is
poisonous.
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9. Weeping Fig, Ficus benjamina L.
Family : Moraceae
Bengali name : Bahari dumur
This leafy plant helps against emissions from curtains, carpets and
furniture. It is a long-lasting plant, you can enjoy its beauty for many years.
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10. Painted-leaf plant, Plectranthus scutellarioides (L.) R.Br.
Famly : Lamiaceae
Bengali name: Patabahar/কৈলাস
It is native to India (including the Himalayas), Sri Lanka, China, Burma,
Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia. The leaves of the
wild species may be somewhat variegated but this has been developed to an
extreme degree in cultivated varieties.
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11. Cockroach Grass, Tradescantia zebrina (Schinz) D. R. Hunt
Family: Commelinaceae (Dayflower family)
Tradescantia zebrina is a very popular trailing plant, commonly grown in
hanging baskets or pots as a houseplant. Trailing stems cascade down from a
hanging basket.
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12. Snake plant, Dracaena trifasciata Laurentii
Family: Asparagaceae (Asparagus family)
Snake plants can grow in a variety of light conditions, but thrive best in
indirect sunlight. Since they originate from the desert, they can also withstand
long periods of time without water. The plant is best suited for bathrooms
since it filters out formaldehyde, which is commonly found in personal-care
products. It is one of the top air-purifying plants identified by NASA
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13. Dracaena, Chlorophytum comosum (Thunb.) Jacq.
Family: Asparagaceae
Bengali name : Dracina
Yellow leaves in the plant are a sign of over-watering or poor drainage. The
NASA Clean Air Study determined that this plant was effective at removing
common household air toxins formaldehyde and xylene.
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14. Spider Plant, Chlorophytum comosum
Family : Asparagaceae
Bengali name : Makorsa jhop
Spider plants make interesting hanging plants. This lovely plant combats
benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and xylene, a solvent used in the
leather, rubber and printing industries. The plant derived this unique name due
to its uniquely-shaped leaves, which dangle like spiders on a web. The plant is
also completely safe if you have pets.
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15. Aloe vera, Aloe barbadensis Miller
Family : Asphodelaceae (Aloe family)
Bengali name : Gritokanchon
This very useful plant which clears formaldehyde and benzene. Aloe
vera plants are a part of the succulent family, Just like their relatives,
they enjoy the sun and prefer that their soil is completely dry between
watering. These small potted plants are handy to keep around if you
have any minor burns, like a sunburn.
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16. Tree Aloe, Aloe arborescens Miller
Family: Asphodelaceae (Aloe family)
Bengali name : Gritokanchon
As with Aloe vera, Krantz Aloe has strongly medicinal sap it is considered the
first treatment for any type of scratch, bite, or burn, and is used in hospitals
as a primary treatment for burns up to the third degree. The sap of Krantz
Aloe contains much higher concentrations of the primary compounds present in
other aloes
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17. False shamrock, Oxalis triangularis, A.St.-Hil
Family : Oxalidaceae
Bengali name : Titeli
This specific oxalis variety is also referred to as “purple shamrocks”. In
addition to its name, its also known for its photophilic nature. This means that
both its flowers and leaves open and close in response to light.
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18. Lace fern, Asparagus cetaceus (Kunth) Jessop
Family: Asparagaceae
Bengali name : Fern
Contrary to its name, the asparagus fern is actually a part of the lily (liliaceae)
family. If possible, give this plant some breathing room on either side so its
leaves can fan out. It will add a beautiful splash of green on any shelf or table.
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19. Curry Leaf, Murraya koenigii
Family: Rutaceae (Lemon family)
Bengali: Barsunga/Bishahari/kari
Leaves are digestive, tonic, stimulant, rich in vitamin A and calcium. Leaves
are also used for diarrhoea, dysentry and checking vomitting. Bark-paste is
antisceptic, applied to skin eruptions. Root extract is taken for relief from
renal pain.
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20. Love-in-a-mist, Passiflora foetida
Family: Passifloraceae (passion flower family)
Bengali Name : Sankha chacra gada padma /ঝু মকা লতা
This species can be helpful in treating digestive problems,
including dyspepsia and diarrhea; or used as an astringent and
expectorant for nervous conditions and spasms.

21. Crape jasmine, Tabernaemontana divaricata
Family: Apocynaceae (Oleander family)
Bengali: Tagar
It is most common ornamental plant in India. Local people called it as sadaful.
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22. Periwinkle, Catharanthus roseus
Family: Apocynaceae (Oleander family)
Bengali Name : Nayantara/নযনতাৰা
In Ayurveda the extracts of its roots and shoots, though poisonous, is
used against several diseases. In traditional Chinese medicine, extracts
from it have been used against numerous diseases, including diabetes,
malaria, and Hodgkin's lymphoma.
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23. Bigleaf hydrangea, Hydrangea macrophylla
Family : Hydrangeaceae
Bengali name : Sikkim ball
It changes its color based on the pH-level in the soil. Acidic soils with a pH of
less than 5.5 produce blue flower and soils with a pH greater than 5.5 produce
pink flowers. White flowers are not affected by pH.
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24. White Ixora, Ixora chinensis
Family: Rubiaceae (Coffee family)
Bengali: Sada rangan
Related to the gardenia and coffee plants, Ixora is said to be native
to Asia and whose name derives from an Indian deity
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25. Pink Ixora, Ixora coccinea
Family: Rubiaceae (Coffee family)
Bengali: Beguni rangan
Pink ixora Relates to the gardenia and coffee plants, Ixora is said to be native
to Asia and whose name derives from an Indian deity.
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26. Tropical Milkweed, Asclepias curassavica L.
Family: Apocynaceae
Bengali Name : Dudhlata
It is a ornamental plant. Plant juices are poisonous but used in the medicinal
industry.
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