Bauhinia Bean tree
Bauhinia gilva

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A tree. It loses its leaves during the year. It has a dense crown. The bark is hard and flaky and dark grey. The leaves have 2 leaflets. They are unequal and oval. They are 14-37 mm long by 6-18 mm wide. The flowers are in groups with only a few flowers. These can be in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches. The flowers are white or cream and have long petals. The fruit is an oblong pod. It is 5-11 cm long by 2.5-3.5 cm wide and can be curved. There are 1-4 seeds in each pod. The seeds are oblong and 11-15 mm long. They are smooth and shiny brown.

There are about 250-350 Bauhinia species. Most are in the tropics. Also as Caesalpinaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in woodland and on alluvial flats near creeks. It can be on limestone.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia (country/location of origin), Indonesia, SE Asia

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Spice

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seed.

Its other names

Local names

Bohemia, Pohon bohinia bohemia

Synonyms

Bauhinia cunninghamii f. gilva Bailey;