Malabar ebony, Mountain ebony
Bauhinia malabarica

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A small to large tree. It grows 3-5 m high but can be up to 17 m high. The trunk branches near the base. It loses its leaves during the year. The leaves are alternate and smooth. The base is slightly heart shaped. The tip is notched. The leaves are 1-20 cm long. The flowers are white or pink. The fruit is a flat pod. The pods are long. They can be 25-30 cm long. They contain many seeds. The pod gradually tapers to the tip. The pod has an irregular network of veins.

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 Nepal at 200-1200 m altitude. It grows on open hillsides. It grows in areas with a rainfall of 1,000 - 3,000 mm each year. In Indonesia it grows from sea level to 150 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Cambodia, East Timor, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Sikkim, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The leaves are used to flavour dishes. They can be used in soups, stews or meat and fish dishes. Young leaves are cooked as a vegetable. Young seeds are cooked and eaten. The flowers are eaten cooked.

It is a cultivated food plant in the Western Ghats.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, flowers

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. It can also be grown by cuttings or air-layering. Seeds can be sown directly in the field or put in a nursery and transplanted.

It is fairly fast growing.

Its other names

Local names

Alibangbang, Amili, Amil tanki, Amli, Amlosa, Bentjuluk, Bwegyin, Chinbyit, Hanthar, Karmai, Khormang, Kotra, Malabar orchid tree, Phak xiao, Pohon bauhinia malabar, Pulishinta, Seaw, Selik, Shin-le-yat, Som siew, Tanki, Tenga kotra

Synonyms

Bauhinia acida Korth.; Bauhinia castrata Hassk.; Bauhinia hawkesiana F. M. Bailey; Bauhinia platyphylla Miq.; Bauhinia rugulosa Miq.; Casparea castrata (Hassk.) Hassk.; Pauletia acida (Korth.) Hassk.; Piliostigma malabaricum (Roxb.) Bentham; Lysiphyllum malabarica; ?