Nature and Life - Episode 172 (Climbers and Shrubs of Forest)

• published: 09 Sep 2014
• views: 7

Bangladesh is rich with greeneries. Thanks to geographical location and fertile lands, various diversified forests have developed in here. This country has Evergreen, Mixed-evergreen, Deciduous and Mangrove forest. Various climbers and shrubs of these forests are inseperable part of our ecosystem. These plants create a green coating in the forest and make the environment ravishing with their spiral attachment with trees. These climbers and shrubs beautify forests with their diversified form, charming look and medicinal attributes. These plants have a close relation with smaller organisms and so have a vital impact on usual lifestyle of larger organisms. Climbers and shrubs are peerless in beautifying forests. Basically climbers and shrubs belong to two different groups. No plant from climbers’ group has strong trunk to stand straight. They grow by holding onto their host with a special organ. They are also locally called as ‘Rohini’. Climbers can be seen in every forest of our country. Some species of climbers are epiphytic plants. Various species of Orchids are remarkable among those. They grow non-parasitically upon another plant. Orchids are popular for their attractive colour and peerless beauty. They have thick and strong leaves. They remain fastened to host tree with their aerial roots. Their branches emerge from their stem and spread other places. They have striking form and colourful flowers that attract insects. There are some climbers that depend completely upon host trees, such as: Devil's hair. They grow parasitically upon another plant and derive nutrition from the host. We use various items in our house that are made of Rattan. Rattan is also a climber species. Instead of taking shelter on other plants they themselves spread on the land and create thick bushes. Most of the climbers have thin form but some can be thick like trees. Gilalota is remarkable among those climbers. It’s a magnificent plant of forest. Numerous shrubs can be seen in our forests. Shrubs are wooded or semi-wooded long-lived plant. They are smaller sized plant with straight stems, which are usually not strong. Their branches emerge from the base of the stem. A large portion of our shrubs is covered by Ferns. Ferns’ leaves are bigger compared to their stem and their fiddleheads gradually unroall into frond. Tree Fern is a commonly known shrub of our country. They grow tall like trees. Tiger Ferns can usually be seen in the bank of coastal rivers or canals. Long-leaved this plant is the biggest mangrove Fern. Screw pine is also a shrub. They are mostly seen in Saint Martin’s and Chera Island. White flowers of Screw pine are amazingly beautiful. Kanthali champa flower is also popular in our country. Candle bush is a shrub that can be seen in our various forests. Numerous yellowish-orange flowers bloom in its branches. These gorgeous flowers are inodorous. Widely used Murta is also a shrub. Murta is used to make designer Shitolpati (cool mat). Shitolpati is famous worldwide. Nipa palm trees are common in around water bodies of Sundarbans. This shrub is a vital part of our forest resource. Most species of climbers and shrubs help in overall pollination of the forest by attracting insects. They beautify wild environment as well as various gardens and courtyards. Though some climbers and shrubs have financial value, but they are arbitrarily being cut as most of them don’t have any timber value. Moreover, some of their species are massively being harvested due to their medicinal value. As a result, many vital species of climbers and shrubs are declining in our country. So, we must consider their beneficial aspects and take apt initiatives to conserve them.