Bengal trumpet - Thunbergia grandiflora

Common Name :	Bengal trumpet, Bengal clockvine.
Botanical Name :	Thunbergia grandiflora
Family :	Acanthaceae
Bangla Name :	Neel lota.
Photo Taken :	Bangladesh

Bengal trumpet is a perennial climbing vine that is native to South and East Asian region. It has several other common names such as Bengal clockvine, Blue thunbergia, etc. Botanical name of the plant is Thunbergia grandiflora. This plant belongs to the plant family Acanthaceae. Having profoundly available in Bangladesh the botanists prefer to call this as Bengal Trumpet. Both in Bangla and Hindi this flower is known as Neel lota.





Bengal trumpet (Thunbergia grandiflora) is a twining vine and the stems are a bit woody. Leafs are a bit larger in size and having a shape of heart (they are oppositely arranged). Bengal Trumpet is a very aggressive plant and can grow very fast. In Bangladesh, it's just a weed but in few countries this has a demand as an ornamental plant for the fence or gate. It can occupy the whole fence within no time as it grows very fast. This plant binds the support in a clockwise direction (that's why named as clockvine). The plant can have a very deep root, and the stem of the plant is very strong like a rope.





Bengal trumpet (Thunbergia grandiflora) flowers are blue, pale blue, white, etc in color. Flowers are tubular and having a shape of trumpet. Inside the flower is a bit hollow, and color is very light yellow there. Flower blooms during the early morning. This flower can easily be confused with a morning glory flower. Blooming season for the plant is March to November. The seed pods of this plant are shaped like a cone.














Photos of Bengal trumpet (Thunbergia grandiflora) were taken from the following locations of Bangladesh. In Bangla this plant is known as Neel Lota (নীল লতা).
1. November 2009: Bandaarban.
2. September 2011: Rajkandi, Moulvibazar.


This article has written by Lonely Traveler,
for the blog http://icflora.blogspot.com/