Bauhinia variegata

Bauhinia variegata is a species of flowering plant in the legume family, Fabaceae. It is native to an area from China through Southeast Asia to the Indian subcontinent. Common names include orchid tree (though not belonging to the family Orchidaceae) and mountain ebony.In Cambodia, it is known as Deum Cheung Ko (ដើមជើងគោ).

Description

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.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Edible Uses: The young leaves, flowers and fruits are boiled and eaten as a vegetable, or are pickled.

Traditional Uses

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.

Medicinal Uses

Alterative Anthelmintic Astringent Dysentery Tonic The bark is alterative, anthelmintic, astringent and tonic. The juice of the bark is used in the treatment of amoebic dysentery, diarrhoea and other stomach disrders. A paste of the bark is useful in the treatment of cuts and wounds, skin diseases, scrofula and ulcers. The dried buds are used in the treatment of piles, dysentery, diarrhoea and worms. The juice of the flowers is used to treat diarrhoea, dysentery and other stomach disorders. The root is used as an antidote to snake poison. A decoction of the root is used to treat dyspepsia.

Distribution

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.

Where It Grows

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, PNG, 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,

Cultivation

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.

Propagation

Seed - pre-soak for 12 hours in warm water then sow in mid spring in a greenhouse. When large enough t handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant out in early summer, after the last expected frosts and consider giving some protection from the cold for their first winter or two outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, with the leaves removed, in moist sand July/August in a frame. Gentle bottom heat is usually required. Layering.

Other Uses

Dye Fodder Tannin Wood The bark is a source of tannins. It is used for dyeing. Wood - used for house construction and making household implements. A very popular ornamental tree in subtropical and tropical climates, grown for its scented flowers. The leaves, shoots and pods of B. variegata are used as fodder for livestock, including sheep, goats and cattle. Average leaf yield from a mature tree is about 20-22 kg fresh weight per annum. Erosion control or dune stabilization, Shade and shelter, Windbreak. Fuels:Charcoal, Fuelwood. Special Uses

Production

Trees are fairly fast growing. Trees produce flowers when 3 years old.

Other Information

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.

Notes

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

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

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

References (120)

• Acharya K. P. and Acharya, R., 2010, Eating from the Wild: Indigenous knowledge on wild edible plants in Parroha VDC of Rupandehi District, Central Nepal. International Journal of Social Forestry. 3(1):28-48
• Ahmad, K., et al, 2018, Ethnobotanical investigation of wild vegetables used among local communities in northwest Pakistan. Acta Soc Bot Pol. 2019;88(1):3616.
• Ambasta S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 69
• Arora, R. K., 2014, Diversity in Underutilized Plant Species - An Asia-Pacific Perspective. Bioversity International. p 100
• Aryal, K. P., et al, 2018, Diversity and use of wild and non-cultivated edible plants in the Western Himalaya. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (2018) 14:10

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