Orchid Tree, Purple Butterfly Tree, Mountain Ebony, Geranium Tree, Purple Bauhinia
Bauhinia purpurea

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

Orchid tree, Bauhinia purpurea, is a tropical, evergreen small tree or shrub up to 4 - 10 m tall and 2 m across. It has an erect and slender stem, crooked branches, green leaves, and large, purple and orchid like flowers. It is native to South China and Southeast Asia. Orchid tree exhibits medicinal properties. Its root is carminative, flowers are laxative, and the bark, roots and flowers, when mixed with rice-water, are used in poultice form as a maturant. It is also a food plant. The leaves, flower buds, flowers, and young seedpods are cooked and eaten as vegetable. The flower buds can also be pickled and used in curries. Aside from the abovementioned uses of the plant, it also yields a gum. The bark is a source of tannins and fibre, and is used for dyeing. The fine wood is hard and durable and is used in carpentry and fuel. Orchid tree is also cultivated as an ornamental tree. Common names: Orchid Tree, Purple Butterfly Tree, Mountain Ebony, Geranium Tree, Purple Bauhinia. Other Names: Alibangbang, Barada, Bol-megong, Bunga kupu-kupu, Ching-kho, Chuvannamandaram, Dev-Kanchan, Deva kanchan, Guiral, Jia telong, Kachnar, Kachner, Kairwal, Kanchanam, Kandan, Kaniar, Karalli, Karar, Keelra, Koiralo, Koliar, Kurul, Levosii, Mandari, Mong bo hoa tim, Msekese, Phak-siew, Purple Bauhinia, Rakia kanchan, Rakia-kanchan, Rato kanchan, Sarul, Shivapa, Sona, Tanki, Tapak kuda, Tapak unta, Vaubeh, Vau-fa-vang, Zi Yangtija.

Bauhinia purpurea is an evergreen Tree growing to 10 m (32ft) by 9 m (29ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10 and is frost tender. The flowers are pollinated by Bees. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and saline soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 10

Where it is found

Common in the mixed and sal forests of the sub-Himalayan tract, ascending to 1,200 metres. It is characteristic of mixed deciduous forests, often of a dry type, occurring on hill slopes, in valleys, and along streams.

E. Asia - India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand.

Conservation Status: Least Concern

Countries/locations it is found in

Found In: Africa, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Bhutan, Burma*, Central Africa, Central America, China, Congo, Costa Rica, East Africa, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iraq, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Martinique, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Sikkim, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, St Lucia, Swaziland, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad-Tobago, Uganda, USA, Vietnam, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 2

Edible portion: Flowers, Leaves, Seeds, Fruit, Gum. Leaves - cooked and eaten as a vegetable. They are used in curries. Flower buds and flowers - cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The flower buds are often pickled or used in curries. Young seedpods - cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The seeds are fried and eaten. The gum is edible.

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Seedpod: things such as Okra, French and Runner beans.

Condiment: the various plants that are used as flavourings, either as herbs, spices or condiments.

Gum: can be chewed as a chewing gum or can often be used as a sweetener or thickening agent in foods.

Medicine

Rating: 2

The root is carminative. The flowers are laxative. The bark, roots and flowers, when mixed with rice-water, are used in poultice form as a maturant.

Carminative: Reduces flatulence and expels gas from the intestines.

Laxative: Stimulates bowel movements in a fairly gentle manner.

Other

Rating: 4

Other uses rating: High (4/5). Landscape Uses: Pest tolerant, Aggressive surface roots possible, Specimen, Blooms are very showy. Form: Rounded, Vase. Agroforestry Uses: This tree should make an excellent pioneer with its ease of establishment, rapid growth and hardiness. Some thought should be given, however, to the possibility of it escaping from cultivation. Other Uses The plant yields a gum. The bark is a source of tannins. It is also used for dyeing. A fibre is obtained from the bark. The wood is rosy-white in colour, turning brown upon exposure to the atmosphere. Fine and closely grained, it is hard and durable. It is used for carpentry and joinery when large enough; otherwise it is used for agricultural implements. The wood is used for fuel.

Dye: Plants that provide dyes.

Fibre: Used for making cloth, rope, paper etc.

Fuel: Usually wood, plant materials that have been mentioned as being a good fuel.

Gum: Gums have a wide range of uses, especially as stabilizers, emulsifiers, thickening agents, adhesives etc.

Pioneer: Plants, usually trees and shrubs, that can be used to reforest land.

Tannin: An astringent substance obtaied from plants, it is used medicinally, as a dye and mordant, stabilizer in pesticide etc.

Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

How it is grown

A plant of subtropical to tropical regions where it can usually be found at elevations from 500 - 2,000 metres, exceptionally to 3,000 metres. The mean annual temperature in its natural habitat ranges from 12° - 21°c; it experiences an absolute maximum shade temperature of 38 - 46c and an absolute minimum of -1° - +9°c. Severe frost kills the leaves of seedlings and saplings, but they can recover during the growing season. It grows in areas with a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,000 - 5,000mm. Grows best in a sunny position. Prefers a fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained, sandy, loamy or gravelly soil. The tree actually flowers best when growing on drier soils. The plant is commonly cultivated in the tropics, where it sometimes escapes from cultivation. There are reports that it can become established in some areas and has been reported as 'invasive' in some Pacific Islands. The growth of young plants is very rapid under favourable conditions. They have been known to attain heights of 3 metres within 12 months and to be almost 5 metres tall and flowering by the end of their second year. The pods develop quickly, some attaining a good length whilst the tree is still in flower. Although many species within the family Fabaceae have a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, this species is said to be devoid of such a relationship and therefore does not fix atmospheric nitrogen. Production: It begins flowering at an early age.

Propagating it: Seed - it germinates readily, with up to 100% germinating after 14 months storage. Sow in a nursery seedbed in light shade. Germination is very rapid, with seedlings appearing within 4 - 10 days. Seedlings grow rapidly and, under good conditions, can be more than 1 metre tall within 2 months of germinating. The seedlings are somewhat difficult to transplant and so are best moved to their permanent positions whilst still small. If larger plants are moved then they should be pruned back to allow easier establishment. Layering Cuttings of half-ripe wood.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 9-12

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

In India, the bark is extensively applied in glandular diseases and as a poison antidote while the leaves are administered as cough medicine. The flowers are said to be laxative and used in curries and pickles.

There are reports that it can become established in some areas and has been reported as 'invasive' in some Pacific Islands and Cuba.

Its other names

Local names

Common names: Orchid Tree, Purple Butterfly Tree, Mountain Ebony, Geranium Tree, Purple Bauhinia. Other Names: Alibangbang, Barada, Bol-megong, Bunga kupu-kupu, Ching-kho, Chuvannamandaram, Dev-Kanchan, Deva kanchan, Guiral, Jia telong, Kachnar, Kachner, Kairwal, Kanchanam, Kandan, Kaniar, Karalli, Karar, Keelra, Koiralo, Koliar, Kurul, Levosii, Mandari, Mong bo hoa tim, Msekese, Phak-siew, Purple Bauhinia, Rakia kanchan, Rakia-kanchan, Rato kanchan, Sarul, Shivapa, Sona, Tanki, Tapak kuda, Tapak unta, Vaubeh, Vau-fa-vang, Zi Yangtija.

Synonyms

Bauhinia castrata Blanco Bauhinia coromandeliana DC. Bauhinia platyphylla Zipp. ex Spanoghe Bauhinia