Bauhinia gilva

(F. M. Bailey) A. S. George

Bauhinia Bean tree

Fabaceae Edible: Spice

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Description

A tree. It loses its leaves during the year. It has a dense crown. The bark is hard and flaky and dark grey. The leaves have 2 leaflets. They are unequal and oval. They are 14-37 mm long by 6-18 mm wide. The flowers are in groups with only a few flowers. These can be in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches. The flowers are white or cream and have long petals. The fruit is an oblong pod. It is 5-11 cm long by 2.5-3.5 cm wide and can be curved. There are 1-4 seeds in each pod. The seeds are oblong and 11-15 mm long. They are smooth and shiny brown.

Edible Uses

The plant is used as a spice.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows in woodland and on alluvial flats near creeks. It can be on limestone.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia*, Indonesia, SE Asia,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown by seed.

Notes

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

Synonyms

Bauhinia cunninghamii f. gilva Bailey

Also Known As

Bohemia, Pohon bohinia bohemia

References (3)

Flora of Australia Volume 12, Mimosaceae (excl. Acacia) Caesalpiniaceae. Melbourne: CSIRO Australia (1998) p 164
Flora of australia 12:197. 1998
Sukarya, D. G., (Ed.) 2013, 3,500 Plant Species of the Botanic Gardens of Indonesia. LIPI p 152