While heading for Kakonhaat in the Barind region, we came across an eye-catching natural beauty just a few kilometres off Rajshahi city. After a little while, the fragrance of mustard flowers hit our nostrils. The fields on both sides of the road were full of vegetables like gourd, beans, chilly, potato, tomato, red amaranth, spinach and what not!

Our driver, Aktarul Alam, was driving very efficiently and smoothly. He was also briefing us on the villages, localities and the markets. Finally, we reached Tapoban, a farmhouse. The house belongs to Zubair Hasan, a nature lover.

There were a number of trees in his garden -- some were in flower and some were bearing fruits. I found the rare kanakchampa. The olives and amlaas ripened. I spotted kuch among some naturally-grown creepers. The fruits in red and orange were peeping from the trees. It was fairly quiet out there.

I spotted the absolutely wild Swarnajhinti at the far end of the garden. The first time I saw them was in 2010 on the Rajshahi University campus. I found its white variety there. The reddish violet species, known as kurubaak, are yet to be discovered.

Swarnajhinti (Barleria prionitis) is also known as janti, jhuti or bonpathali at some places. Their English names are Philippine Violet and Crested Philippine Violet. The tree is around one metre in height, straight and without thorns. The green bushy trees have many branches. The leaves are oval and four to seven centimetres long.

The flowers are either single or clustered. They are four to seven centimetres long. The silky brown seeds are circular in shape. The flowering season is from November to March. Some parts of the tree work as antidote for snakebites. Besides, the sap from the leaves helps cure swelling of body parts. A segment of the Indian tribal people uses the sap of the roots and leaves for anaemia and cough. The tree can survive in rough terrains as well.