Pink Orchid Tree
Bauhinia variegata
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
A tree. It loses its leaves during the dry season of the year. It grows to a height of 8-12 m tall and spreads to 5 m across. The stem is erect and straight. The leaves are entire to the midpoint, then divided into 2 lobes. The leaves are 10-20 cm long and 10-15 cm across. The base of the leaves is heart shaped. They are dull blue-green. The veins radiate from the base of the leaf. The leaf stalk is 2-3 cm long. The flowers are pink to purple with 5 club-shaped petals. One petal is a different shape and colour. They are produced on stalks around a flowering stalk at the end of branches. The flowers are 8-12 cm across. The fruit are pods. They are 20-30 cm long and 1.5-2.5 cm wide. They are flat and brown and twist as they open. There are 10-15 seeds. The seeds are round and flat and 1 cm across.
There are about 250-350 Bauhinia species. Most are in the tropics. It can become invasive. Also as Caesalpinaceae.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. The minimum temperature is 7°C. They cannot tolerate salt spray. It grows naturally in deciduous forest between 500 and 1500 m altitude. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 9-10. In Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, Cambodia, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central America, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Egypt, El Salvador, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Grenada, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Jamaica, Kenya, Laos, Lebanon, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, NW India, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sikkim, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, St Lucia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, Uganda, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
The flowers are used in pickles and curry. They are dried. They are edible when fried. The young leaves, flowers and fruit (pods) are boiled and cooked as a vegetable. They are also used in relish and chutney. The seeds are eaten after roasting.
The flowers are mainly used in India and Nepal. It is not known if it is used for food in Papua New Guinea. They are sold in markets in Nepal.
Edible parts
Flowers, leaves, buds, fruit, pods, seeds, gum
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from treated seed. Fresh seeds do not need to be treated, but stored seed do. They are put into hot water then left overnight before planting. (There are 4,200-5,700 seed per kg.) Seeds germinate in about 3 weeks. It can be grown by air-layering and grafting.
Trees are fairly fast growing. Trees produce flowers when 3 years old.
Its other names
Local names
Bhosa, Bunga kupu kupu, Butterfly bush, Camel-foot tree, Champa, Chingthrao, Chuvannamandaram, Dhaonro pump, Dork ban, Ger her por, Greainblack, Guiral, Hoa ban, Kachnar, Kalshiya, Kalyar, Kanaraj, Kanchan, Kanchanar, Kanchavala, Kaniar, Karial, Katyalae, Kerale, Kha-la, Khwairal, Kiorala, Koilar, Koilara, Koiralo, Kulyar, Kurial, Kurol, Kutchnar, Mahul, Malungarh, Mandari, Mogar, Mountain ebony, Okjok, Orchid tree, Pacham, Pachem, Padrian, Paj haum tsav, Pawangma, Phar-kung, Phum, Pink bauhinia, Pink camel's-foot, Pohon bauhinia talikancu merah, Raktakanchan, Segapumanchori, Sheep's foot, Sieo-dok-khao, Taki, Tapak kerbau, Variegated bauhinia, Vaube, White bauli, Yangtijia
Synonyms
Possibly Perlebia variegata (Linn.) Schmitz.; Bauhinia candida Aiton; Bauhinia chinensis (DC.) Vogel; Bauhinia decora Uribe; Bauhinia variegata var. chinensis DC.; Phanera variegata (L.) Benth.;