Butterfly Tree, Purple orchid Tree
Bauhinia purpurea

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

An evergreen shrub or small tree. It grows to 4-10 m high and spreads to 2 m across. The stem is erect and slender. The branches are crooked. The leaves are green and have 2 lobes which divide the leaves for half their length. They are rounded and 7-16 cm long and the same width. The leaf stalk is 3 cm long. The flowers are purple and orchid like. They are large and can be 6 cm across. They can occur either on their own or in flowering branches and can be in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches. The flower buds are 4-5 angled. The flower petals are reddish purple and often with coloured marks. The petals do not overlap and there are 3-4 stamens. The fruit are oblong brown pods. They are flattened and can be 25 cm long by 2 cm wide. There are 5-6 seeds. The seeds are 12-13 mm long.

A tree cultivated 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 is drought and frost tender. In Nepal it grows from 300-3000 m altitude. It can grow in arid places. In the Indian Himalayas it grows between 1,300-1,400 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 11-12. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Central Africa, Central America, China, Congo, Costa Rica, East Africa, Egypt, El Salvador, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iraq, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Martinique, Mauritius, Mexico, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar (country/location of origin), Nepal, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Sikkim, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, St Lucia, Swaziland, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad-Tobago, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, UAE, USA, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, West Timor, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young leaves are cooked and eaten in India. They are used in curries. The flower buds and young fruit are cooked as a vegetable. They are also pickled. The ripe seeds are fried and eaten. The gum is edible.

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

Edible parts

Flowers, leaves, seeds, fruit, gum

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Seed need to be treated to help them grow. It can be grown by air-layering and grafting.

It begins flowering at an early age.

Its other names

Local names

Aapta, Alibangbang, Barada, Bol-megong, Bunga kupu-kupu, Chee-kung, Ching-kho, Chingthrao angangba, Chuvannamandaram, Dev-Kanchan, Deva kanchan, Ger her kwo, Guiral, Javvahiru, Jia telong, Kachnar, Kachner, Kairwal, Kanchan, Kanchanam, Kandan, Kaniar, Karalli, Karar, Katumandaram, Keelra, Kha-lat, Khair-wal, Khuf al-jeme, Kobida, Koilar, Koina sag, Koiralo, Koliar, Kom arxa, Kowdel, Kurul, Levosii, Maha-hlega-ni, Mandari, Masi, Megong, Mong-bo do, Mong bo hoa tim, Msekese, Orhidejno drevo, Pacham, Phak-siew, Pohon bohinia ungu, Purple Bauhinia, Rakia kanchan, Rakia-kanchan, Rakto kanchan, Rato kanchan, Sarul, Shivapa, Sona, Swedae-ni, Taa-ki, Tanki, Tapak kuda, Tapak unta, Tingka lakchu, Vaibeh, Vaubeh, Vau-fa-vang, Zi Yangtija

Synonyms

Bauhinia platyphylla Spanoghe; Bauhinia castrata Blanco; Bauhinia coromandeliana DC.; Bauhinia rosea Corner; Bauhinia triandra Roxb.; Bauhinia kurzii; Bauhinia purpurea var. violacea de Wit.; Bauhinia violacea Corner; Caspareopsis purpurea (L.) Pittier; Phanera purpurea (L.) Benth.;