Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 29(1): 161-165, 2022 (June) DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/bjpt.v29i1.60456 © 2022 Bangladesh Association of Plant Taxonomists - Short communication ENUMERATION OF CLIMBING ANGIOSPERMS IN AND AROUND RAJSHAHI CITY, BANGLADESH M. TARIKUL HASAN* Department of Botany, Abdulpur Government College, Natore, Bangladesh. Keywords: Climbing plant; Liana; Vine; Weak stemmed plant Climbing angiosperms generally called as climbers are groups consists of plants that are rooted in the ground and capable to climbing up with the help of neighboring support such as plants or other objects. Climbers are found in a majority of the world’s forests but a good number of climbers are also found in the non forest area such as villages, urbanized areas, and besides agricultural fields, railway tracks, highway sides, river or canal banks, garden and grove. They are part of biological spectra of forest ecosystems, on the other hand it constitute a large and important sector of ornamental horticulture due to its flowers and an astonishing range of colors. Therefore, an inventory of climber plants of an area or forest is essential not only from taxonomic point of view but also for resource management and developmental planning. The importance of studying local floristic diversity of climbing angiosperm has been realized and carried out in deferent location by several researchers such as Bandyopadhyay and Mukherjee (2010),Patel et al.(2013), Gianoli (2015), Kensa et al. (2015), Sarvalingam and Rajendran (2015), Vargas et al (2018), Birhane et al. (2020), Subramanian et al. (2020) but in Bangladesh, few studies (Rahman et al., 2010; Hossain et al.,2015; Rani el al., 2019) on climber diversity were done so far. The present work is the outcome of extensive survey at different corners of Rajshahi city and its surroundings in different seasons from January 2020 to December 2020. The area of Rajshahi city is 95.56 sq km and located in between 24'20' and 24'24' north latitudes and 88'32' and 88'40' east longitudes. Under Koppen climate classification, Rajshahi has a tropical wet and dry climate. Collected specimens were identified up to species with the help of Ahmed et al. (2009), Uddin and Hassan (2018), relevant literature and online flora. The up-to-date botanical nomenclature and local name has been cited based on “Plants of the world online (http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org)” and Pasha and Uddin (2013) respectively. Specimens have been deposited at Department of Botany, Abdulpur Government College, Natore, Bangladesh. During the study, 91 climbers belonging to 29 families were observed and are presented in Table 1. Among the record species, 47 were found wild and the rest were found as a cultivated species. The highest numbers of the wild species were collected from highway sides followed by railway tracks. Out of 44 cultivated species, 23 species were recorded as ornamental. Usually, the city dweller likes ornamental plant that gives flowers or beautification in the garden or in front of residence. They like vines to creep along the tops of walls, twine up pillars and posts and bestride gateways. Most of the enumerated climbers were woody vine and the major climbing modes were twiner. Rani et al. (2019) did an extensive floristic survey of climbers and recorded 88 climbers of 25 families from Rajshahi district. Earlier, Rahman (2013) reported 52 climbers in a floristic survey of Rajshahi district. In the present investigation, Cucurbitaceae was found as a major family consisting of eighteen species followed by Convolvulaceae and Fabaceae consisting of thirteen and ten genera respectively. On the basis of observation, the state of occurrence has been noted as very common, common and occasional. *Corresponding author, E-mail: drmthasan@gmail.com https://doi.org/10.3329/bjpt.v29i1.60456 http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org) mailto:drmthasan@gmail.com 162 HASAN In this study, 19 wild species were occasionally found. Proper conservation measures should be required to increase their abundance. Table 1.List of the climber species in and around Rajshahi city. Sl No. Scientific name Family Local Name Status Habit Climbing modes Category 01 Abrus precatorius L. Fabaceae Kunch Oc Wd Tw WC 02 Allamanda cathartica L. Apocynaceae Ghantaphul VC CV Tw WC 03 Ampelocissus latifolia (Roxb.) Planch. Vitaceae Gowalia-lata Co Wd Tn WC 04 Antigonon leptopus Hook. &Arn. Polygonaceae Anantalata Co CV Tn WC 05 Aristolochia indica L. Aristolochiaceae Isharmul Oc Wd Tw WC 06 Artabotrys hexapetalus (L.f.) Bhandari Annonaceae Kanthalichapa Co CV Ho WC 07 Asparagus racemosus Willd. Asparagaceae Shotomuli VC CV Ho WC 08 Basella alba L. Basellaceae Puishak VC CV Tw HC 09 Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn. Cucurbitaceae Chalkumra VC CV Tn HC 10 Bougainvillea glabra Choisy Nyctaginaceae Baganbilas VC CV Tw WC 11 Brachypterum scandens (Roxb.) Miq. Fabaceae Kalilata Co Wd Tw WC 12 Calamus tenuis Roxb. Arecaceae Bet Oc Wd Ho WC 13 Campsis radicans (L.) Bureau Bignoniaceae Turilata Oc CV RC WC 14 Capparis zeylanica L. Capparaceae Kalkera Co Wd Ho WC 15 Cardiospermum halicacabum L. Sapindaceae Lataphutiki Oc Wd Tn HC 16 Causonis trifolia (L.) Mabb.&J.Wen Vitaceae Amollata VC Wd Tn WC 17 Cayratia pedata (Lam.) Gagnep. Vitaceae Goalilata Oc Wd Tn WC 18 Cissus adnata Roxb. Vitaceae Vatialata Oc Wd Tn WC 19 Cissus quadrangularis L. Vitaceae Harjora VC CV Tn WC 20 Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum.&Nakai Cucurbitaceae Tarmuj Oc CV Tn HC 21 Clematis gouriana Roxb. ex DC. Ranunculaceae Chagolboti Oc CV Tn WC 22 Clerodendrum splendens G.Don Lamiaceae Shum bhat VC CV Tw WC 23 Clerodendrum thomsoniae Balf.f. Lamiaceae Hridoyhara Oc CV Tw WC 24 Clitoria ternatea L. Fabaceae Aparajita VC CV Tw WC 25 Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt Cucurbitaceae Telakucha VC Wd Tn WC 26 Cocculus hirsutus (L.) W.Theob. Menispermaceae Jaljamani VC Wd Tw WC 27 Combretum indicum (L.) DeFilipps Combretaceae Madhabilata VC CV Tw WC 28 Cryptolepis buchananii R.Br. exRoem. &Schult. Apocynaceae Karanta Oc Wd Tw WC 29 Cucumis maderaspatanus L. Cucurbitaceae Agamukhe VC Wd Tn HC 30 Cucumis melo L. Cucurbitaceae KalluBangi Co Wd Tn HC 31 Cucumis sativus L. Cucurbitaceae Sasa Co CV Tn HC 32 Cucurbita maxima Duchesne Cucurbitaceae Mistikumra VC CV Tn HC 33 Cucurbita pepo L. Cucurbitaceae Sadakadu Oc CV Tn HC 34 Daemonorops jenkinsiana (Griff.) Mart. Arecaceae Golla bet Oc CV Ho WC 35 Dioscorea alata L. Dioscoreaceae Chuprialu VC CV Tw HC ENUMERATION OF CLIMBING ANGIOSPERMS 163 Sl No. Scientific name Family Local Name Status Habit Climbing modes Category 36 Dioscorea bulbifera L. Dioscoreaceae Ratalu Oc CV Tw HC 37 Dioscorea pentaphylla L. Dioscoreaceae Jumalu Oc CV Tw HC 38 Epipremnum aureum (Linden & André) G.S.Bunting Araceae Money plant VC CV RC WC 39 Ficus pumila L. Moraceae Latadumur Oc CV RC WC 40 Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R.Br. Apocynaceae Anontomul Oc Wd Tw WC 41 Hewittia malabarica (L.) Suresh Convolvulaceae Hiwet Oc Wd Tw HC 42 Ichnocarpus frutescens (L.) W.T.Aiton Apocynaceae Shamlata Co Wd Tw WC 43 Ipomoea alba L. Convolvulaceae Dudhkolmi Co Wd Tw HC 44 Ipomoea aquatica Forssk. Convolvulaceae Kalmi VC CV Tw HC 45 Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. Convolvulaceae Mistialu Oc CV Tw HC 46 Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet Convolvulaceae Rail lata Oc CV Tw HC 47 Ipomoea coccinea L. Convolvulaceae Lalkolmi Co CV Tw HC 48 Ipomoea nil (L.) Roth Convolvulaceae Nil komol Co Wd Tw HC 49 Ipomoea obscura (L.) Ker Gawl. Convolvulaceae Kura kalmi Oc Wd Tw HC 50 Ipomoea pes-tigridis L. Convolvulaceae Langulilata Co Wd Tw HC 51 Ipomoea quamoclit L. Convolvulaceae Kunjolata VC CV Tw HC 52 Ipomoea triloba L. Convolvulaceae Ghontikolmi Co Wd Tw HC 53 Jasminum sambac (L.) Aiton Oleaceae Beli Co Wd Tw WC 54 Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet Fabaceae Shim VC CV Tw HC 55 Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. Cucurbitaceae Lau VC CV Tn HC 56 Leptospron adenanthum (G.Mey.) A.Delgado Fabaceae Bon barboti Oc Wd Tw HC 57 Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb. Cucurbitaceae Jhinga Co CV Tn HC 58 Luffa aegyptiaca Mill. Cucurbitaceae Dhundal VC CV Tn HC 59 Mansoa alliacea (Lam.) A.H.Gentry Bignoniaceae Rasunlata Co CV Tw WC 60 Merremia hederacea (Burm.f.) Hallier f. Convolvulaceae Kaladana VC Wd Tw HC 61 Mikania micrantha Kunth Asteraceae Asamlata VC Wd Tw WC 62 Momordica charantia L. Cucurbitaceae Korolla Co CV Tn HC 63 Momordica subangulata Blume Cucurbitaceae Kakrol Oc CV Tn HC 64 Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. Fabaceae Alakusi Oc Wd Tw WC 65 Operculina turpethum (L.) Silva Manso Convolvulaceae Dudhkalmi VC Wd Tw HC 66 Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) Urb. Fabaceae Kesur Oc CV Tw HC 67 Paederia foetida L. Rubiaceae Gandhabhaduli Co Wd Tw WC 68 Passiflora foetida L. Passifloraceae Jhumkolata Oc Wd Tn WC 69 Passiflora suberosa L. Passifloraceae Melajhumka VC Wd Tn WC 70 Pentalinon luteum (L.) B.F.Hansen&Wunderlin Apocynaceae Aloknanda Oc CV Tw WC 71 Pergularia daemia (Forssk.) Chiov. Apocynaceae Dudhilata Co Wd Tw HC 72 Pyrostegia venusta (Ker Gawl.) Miers Bignoniaceae Sonalilota Oc CV Tw WC 164 HASAN Sl No. Scientific name Family Local Name Status Habit Climbing modes Category 73 Scindapsus officinalis (Roxb.) Schott Araceae Gojpipul Oc Wd RC HC 74 Smilax perfoliata Lour. Smilacaceae Kumarilata Oc Wd Tn WC 75 Solena amplexicaulis (Lam.) Gandhi Cucurbitaceae Kundri Oc Wd Tn HC 76 Stephania japonica (Thunb.) Miers Menispermaceae Nimuka VC Wd Tw HC 77 Syngonium podophyllum Schott Araceae Podolatakachu VC Wd RC HC 78 Telosma pallida (Roxb.) Craib Apocynaceae Kanjalata VC Wd Tw WC 79 Teramnus labialis (L.f.) Spreng. Fabaceae Mashani Oc Wd Tw HC 80 Thunbergia coccinea Wall. exD.Don Acanthaceae Raktimlata Oc CV Tw WC 81 Thunbergia erecta (Benth.) T.Anderson Acanthaceae Neelghonto Oc CV Tw WC 82 Tiliacora acuminata (Lam.) Miers Menispermaceae Tiliacora VC Wd Tw WC 83 Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Hook.f. & Thomson Menispermaceae Guloncho VC Wd Tw HC 84 Tragia involucrata L Euphorbiaceae Bichuti Oc Wd Tw WC 85 Trichosanthes costata Blume Cucurbitaceae Batijhinga Oc Wd Tn HC 86 Trichosanthes cucumerina L. Cucurbitaceae Bon chichinga VC Wd Tn HC 87 Trichosanthes dioica Roxb. Cucurbitaceae Potol Co CV Tn HC 88 Trichosanthes tricuspidata Lour. Cucurbitaceae Makal Co Wd Tn WC 89 Vicia sativa L. Fabaceae Ankari VC Wd Tn HC 90 Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. Fabaceae Barbati Oc CV Tw HC 91 Vitis vinifera L. Vitaceae Angur Co CV Tn WC Habit: CV= Cultivated and Wd= Wild; Status: Co= Common, Oc= Occasional and VC= Very common; Climbing modes: Ho= Hook climber, RC= Root climber, Tn= Tendril climbers and Tw= Stem twiners; Category: HC= Herbaceous climber and WC= Woody climber. Acknowledgments The author is grateful to Dr. Mahabuba Sultana, Senior Scientific Officer, Bangladesh National Herbarium, Dhaka and Mr. Mozaharul Islam for their cooperation to carry out this work. References Ahmed, Z.U., Begum, Z.N.T., Hassan, M.A., Khondker, M., Kabir, S.M.H., Ahmad, M., Ahmed A.T.A., Rahman, A.K.A., Haque E.U. (Eds.).2008-2009. Encyclopedia of Flora and Fauna of Bangladesh.Asiat. Soc. Bangladesh, Dhaka. Vols. 6-10. Bandyopadhyay, S. and Mukherjee, S.K. 2010.Diversity of Climbing Plants in the Koch Bihar District of West Bengal, India.Pleione 4(1):82 – 89. 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