In different parts of Cox’s Bazar, a medicinal plant is known by several names—some call it Dondokolosh, while others call it Kanshika. However, its botanical name is Shwetdron.
The plant grows up to one-and-a-half meters in height, often sprouting in clusters that form bush-like growth. It can be found year-round, though the ideal flowering season is between March and May.
Across the region’s forests, this plant is found in abundance, particularly along both sides of the Cox’s Bazar Marine Drive and on fallow lands.
Dondokolosh does not need to be planted separately; it grows alongside other crops and is sometimes called a “companion plant.”
It thrives in harmony with its surroundings, contributing to local biodiversity.
In natural conditions, the plant grows without any intervention. Its leaves are dark green, while the stem is a lighter shade.
Mature plants bear bright white flowers, whose sweet nectar attracts bees in large numbers.
Dondokolosh is widely used in rural medicine. For example, its leaves are boiled with black cumin to relieve colds and coughs.
When mixed with ginger and warm water, the juice extracted from its leaves and roots is also believed to ease coughing.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Hussain Shetu
