Butterfly Flower
Bauhinia monandra

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A deciduous tree. It grows to 7 m tall and spreads to 4 m across. The stem is slender and erect. It often forms several stems. It has widely spreading branches. The leaves have 2 lobes and are yellowish-green. The flowers are pale pink with red dots and have 5 petals and one fertile stamen. Flowers are usually of one sex. They are orchid like and are 10 cm across. They occur around stalks on the end of branches. The flowers only have one stamen. Pods are 20 cm long.

It is normally grown in gardens as an ornamental. There are about 250-350 Bauhinia species. Most are in the tropics. Also as Caesalpinaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It prefers a well composted, moist, well drained soil. It grows in areas with a rainfall between 900-2,000 mm per year. It does best in a protected sunny position. It is drought and frost tender. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Caribbean, Caroline Islands, Central America, Christmas Island, Congo DR, Cook Is., Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Fiji, Guiana, Haiti, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Leeward Is., Liberia, Madagascar (country/location of origin), Malaysia, Mali, Mariana Islands, Marquesas, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nigeria, Niue, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rotuma, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South America, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad-Tobago, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

It is not known if it is used for food in Papua New Guinea.

Edible parts

Leaves, flowers

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Seed should be treated before sowing. It can be grown by air-layering or grafting.

Its other names

Local names

Butterfly Bauhinia, Flores mariposa, Jerusalem date, Mariposa, Mong-bo don-hung, Napolean's cocked hat, Napoleon's plume, Orchid tree, Pink butterfly tree, St Thomas’s Tree, Swedaw

Synonyms

Bauhinia kappler Sagot; and others