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Bauhinia
variegata L.
Synonym : Phanera variegata L.
Family
: Caesalpinioideae
Local Names
: Chuvanna Mantharam,
Mountain ebony
Flowering
and fruiting period:
September – May
Distribution: Possibly native of
China; wild in the sub Himalayan and India
Habitat: Cultivated as
ornamental plant
IUCN
status:
Least Concern
Endemic:
No
Uses: Ornamental, Fruits
edible, Young leaves edible, firewood, timber yielding, anti-helminthic.
Key
Characters:
Bauhinia variegata have dark brown bark. Leaf lamina is broader than long, witha medium cleft. Inflorescence
is a pubescent raceme. Calyx tomentose, 5 toothed at the apex. Petals 5, with
long rather broad claw, 4 petals pale purple and fifth darker with purple
veins. Stamens 5, fertile, no staminodes. Ovary hairy; style long, stigma
capitates. Fruit is a 10-15 seeded dehiscent pod.
