Flower lovers were simply charmed seeing the trees in tiny pots when they visited the exhibition that began in the city yesterday.

Hundreds of Bonsai works on Banyan, Krishnachura, Tamarind, Shawra, Hijol, Tamal, Kamini, Chandana, Boichi, Pakur, Togor and Gandharaj were on display at the exhibition.

Their different shapes and sizes were the re-appearance of a natural scenery in a pot.

The Embassy of Japan and Bangladesh Bonsai Society have jointly organised the two-day exhibition at the national music and dance centre of Shilpakala Academy.

Some 80 bonsai practitioners are taking part in the exhibition showing their artistic works.

Susumu Nakamura, one of the most distinguished Bonshai Masters in Japan, inaugurated the exhibition.

"Bonsai means a tree in a tiny pot and the word bonsai comes from Japanese language where Bon means shallow pot and Sai means tree," Susumu Nakarmura told The Daily Star.

He said Bangladesh is a good place for Bonsai as varieties of trees are available here.

"Bonsai are being made around 60 styles including formal upright, informal upright, slanting, cascade, and semi-cascade form," said Dr AK Shafique Ahmed Khan, president of the society.

He said bonsai practitioners selected such trees for bonsai which have strong trunk, branch, small leaf and root.

"Every branch and twig of the tree must be shaped or eliminated until the chosen image is achieved and patience is needed for this tusk," said Borhan Hossain Kakul, training director of BBS who have displayed his four best works.

"Around 40 species of trees in our country can be turned into bonsai," said Masudur Rahman, general secretary of the society.

A total of 150 bonsai works are being displayed at the exhibition where best four will be given prizes, sources said.

The exhibition will remain open from 10.00am to 6.00pm today.