Bauhinia purpurea

Bauhinia purpurea is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to the Indian subcontinent and Myanmar, and widely introduced elsewhere in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Common names include orchid tree, purple bauhinia, camel's foot, butterfly tree, and Hawaiian orchid tree.

Description

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.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers Fruit Leaves Seed Seedpod Edible Uses: Condiment Gum Edible portion: Flowers, Leaves, Seeds, Fruit, Gum. Leaves - cooked and eaten as a vegetable. They are used in curries. Flower buds and flowers - cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The flower buds are often pickled or used in curries. Young seedpods - cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The seeds are fried and eaten. The gum is edible.

Traditional Uses

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.

Medicinal Uses

Carminative Laxative The root is carminative. The flowers are laxative. The bark, roots and flowers, when mixed with rice-water, are used in poultice form as a maturant.

Known Hazards

In India, the bark is extensively applied in glandular diseases and as a poison antidote while the leaves are administered as cough medicine. The flowers are said to be laxative and used in curries and pickles.

Distribution

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.

Where It Grows

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*, Nepal, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, PNG, 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,

Cultivation

A plant of subtropical to tropical regions where it can usually be found at elevations from 500 - 2,000 metres, exceptionally to 3,000 metres. The mean annual temperature in its natural habitat ranges from 12° - 21°c; it experiences an absolute maximum shade temperature of 38 - 46c and an absolute minimum of -1° - +9°c. Severe frost kills the leaves of seedlings and saplings, but they can recover during the growing season. It grows in areas with a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,000 - 5,000mm. Grows best in a sunny position. Prefers a fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained, sandy, loamy or gravelly soil. The tree actually flowers best when growing on drier soils. The plant is commonly cultivated in the tropics, where it sometimes escapes from cultivation. There are reports that it can become established in some areas and has been reported as 'invasive' in some Pacific Islands. The growth of young plants is very rapid under favourable conditions. They have been known to attain heights of 3 metres within 12 months and to be almost 5 metres tall and flowering by the end of their second year. The pods develop quickly, some attaining a good length whilst the tree is still in flower. Although many species within the family Fabaceae have a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, this species is said to be devoid of such a relationship and therefore does not fix atmospheric nitrogen. Production: It begins flowering at an early age.

Propagation

Seed - it germinates readily, with up to 100% germinating after 14 months storage. Sow in a nursery seedbed in light shade. Germination is very rapid, with seedlings appearing within 4 - 10 days. Seedlings grow rapidly and, under good conditions, can be more than 1 metre tall within 2 months of germinating. The seedlings are somewhat difficult to transplant and so are best moved to their permanent positions whilst still small. If larger plants are moved then they should be pruned back to allow easier establishment. Layering Cuttings of half-ripe wood.

Other Uses

Dye Fibre Fuel Gum Pioneer Tannin Wood Other uses rating: High (4/5). Landscape Uses: Pest tolerant, Aggressive surface roots possible, Specimen, Blooms are very showy. Form: Rounded, Vase. Agroforestry Uses: This tree should make an excellent pioneer with its ease of establishment, rapid growth and hardiness. Some thought should be given, however, to the possibility of it escaping from cultivation. Other Uses The plant yields a gum. The bark is a source of tannins. It is also used for dyeing. A fibre is obtained from the bark. The wood is rosy-white in colour, turning brown upon exposure to the atmosphere. Fine and closely grained, it is hard and durable. It is used for carpentry and joinery when large enough; otherwise it is used for agricultural implements. The wood is used for fuel. Special Uses Food Forest

Production

It begins flowering at an early age.

Other Information

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

Notes

A tree cultivated as an ornamental. There are about 250-350 Bauhinia species. Most are in the tropics. Also as Caesalpinaceae.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

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

References (94)

• Abbiw, D.K., 1990, Useful Plants of Ghana. West African uses of wild and cultivated plants. Intermediate Technology Publications and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. p 41
• Anderson, E. F., 1993, Plants and people of the Golden Triangle. Dioscorides Press. p 203
• Arora, R. K., 2014, Diversity in Underutilized Plant Species - An Asia-Pacific Perspective. Bioversity International. p 100
• Asfaw, Z. and Tadesse, M., 2001, Prospects for Sustainable Use and Development of Wild Food Plants in Ethiopia. Economic Botany, Vol. 55, No. 1, pp. 47-62
• Ambasta S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 69

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