Abstract
An intensive survey and literature review was furnished to study taxonomic diversity and ethno-botanical uses of broad-leaf weeds available in BAU campus. Availability of 107 broad-leaf weed species has been identified and those belong to 78 genera and 38 families. Among the families, Fabaceae is best-represented with 13 weed species followed by Euphorbiaceae and Amaranthaceae (seven species in each), Solanaceae (six species), Convolvulaceae and Polygonaceae (five species); 17 families are represented by two to four species while 15 families by single species in each. The genera viz. Desmodium, Ludwigia and Solanum, are represented by four species in each followed by Amaranthus, Ipomoea, Lindernia, Persicaria and Senna three species in each; however, most of the genera are represented by one or two species in each. Three distinct phenology (flowering periods) viz. October-March (52), April-September (40) and all the year-round (15), were observed among identified weed species and the knowledge on phonological development would be helpful to know soil seedbank potential for their effective management. These weed species possess many ethno-botanical uses e.g., medicinal value, consumed as vegetable, feed, fodder, etc. This study provides information on ethno-botanic uses, taxonomic diversities and phenology of the broad-leaf weeds for their effective management.
 
 J Bangladesh Agril Univ 17(4): 526–538, 2019
Highlights
Weeds are unwanted and undesirable plants which interfere with the utilization of land and water resources and adversely affect human welfare (Rao, 2000)
This study provides information on ethno-botanic uses, taxonomic diversities and phenology of the broad-leaf weeds for their effective management
About 20% of the present weed flora have been recognized as naturalized exotic weeds e.g., Argemone maxicana, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Clerodendrum viscosum, Croton bonplandianum, Lathyrus aphaca, Lantana camara, Mimosa pudica, Nicotiana plumbaginifolia, Urenia lobata, Vicia angustifolia, etc. (Hossain and Pasha, 2004)
Summary
Weeds are unwanted and undesirable plants which interfere with the utilization of land and water resources and adversely affect human welfare (Rao, 2000). Uncontrolled weed growth, especially in the early stages of crop establishment, causes yield loss up to 25-80% depending upon types of crops (Kashem et al, 2009); and the global economic losses more than $40 billion per annum occurs due to weeds through reduction of agricultural and silvicultural productivity, reduced access to land and water, impaired aesthetics and disruption of human activities and well-being (Kashem et al, 2009) Despite these negative effects, weeds act as ground cover, source of organic matter and genetic materials for crop improvement, nutrient cycling, and possess many ethno-botanical uses e.g., medicine, vegetable, feed and fodder for domestic animal, etc. As a part of this research, the species diversity of (dicotyledonous) broad-leaf weeds including their habitat, flowering period and ethno-botanical uses, have been reported here which might be useful for the green weed management practices and for getting higher economic benefits
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