Sampoe chhe
Bauhinia viridescens

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

An erect shrub. It grows 1-4 m tall. The branches are thin and smooth. The leaves are divided at the tip into 2 lobes. They are red when young and become green when mature. There is a small triangle shaped stipule at the base of the leaf. The leaves are 7-15 cm long by 10-15 cm wide. The leaf stalk is 3-5 cm long. The flowering arrangements are at the top of the plant in the axils of the leaves. These are 5-15 cm long. The flowers are greenish. Male and female flowers are separate. The fruit are flat pods 5-7 cm long and 1 cm wide. There are 6-10 flat seeds. These are 3 mm wide.

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

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the tropical lowlands. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Cambodia, China, East Timor, Indochina, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, SE Asia, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The young leaves and fruit are eaten in salads with fish sauce. Young pods are also eaten. The flowers are used as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit, flower

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Day mau, Lahkyang, Mong bo tro xanh, Mongbo xanh, Swedaw

Synonyms

Bauhinia baviensis Drake; Bauhinia fusifera C. E. C. Fisch.; Bauhinia polycarpa Benth.; Bauhinia timorana Decne. Bauhinia viridescens var. baviensis (Drake) de Wit; Bauhinia viridescens var. viridescens;