Bauhinia

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Bauhinia
Bauhinia variegata flower
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
Tribe: Cercideae
Genus: Bauhinia
L.[1]
Type species
B. divaricata
L.
Species

See text

Synonyms

Bracteolanthus de Wit
Cardenasia Rusby
Caspareopsis Britton & Rose
Casparia Kunth
Pauletia Cav.
Schnella Raddi
Tournaya A.Schmitz[1]

Bauhinia /boʊˈhɪniə/[2] is a genus of more than 200 species of flowering plants in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae of the large flowering plant family Fabaceae, with a pantropical distribution. The genus was named after the Bauhin brothers, Swiss-French botanists.

Many species are widely planted in the tropics as orchid trees, particularly in northern India, Vietnam and southeastern China. Other common names include Mountain Ebony and Kachnar (India and Pakistan). In the United States of America, the trees grow in Hawaii, coastal California, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. Bauhinia × blakeana is the floral emblem of Hong Kong–a stylized orchid tree flower appears on the Hong Kong flag and Hong Kong Airlines uses 'Bauhinia' as its radio callsign in air traffic communication.

Description

Bauhinia trees typically reach a height of 6–12 m and their branches spread 3–6 m outwards. The lobed leaves usually are 10–15 cm across.

The five-petaled flowers are 7.5-12.5 cm diameter, generally in shades of red, pink, purple, orange, or yellow, and are often fragrant. The tree begins flowering in late winter and often continues to flower into early summer. Depending on the species, Bauhinia flowers are usually in magenta, mauve, pink or white hues with crimson highlights.

Cultivation

Propagation of Bauhinia species is from seeds or cuttings. They prefer acidic soils and do not tolerate salty conditions. Full sun exposure is preferred but they can be grown under partial sun. Generous watering is needed during summer; moderate moisture required in winter.

Bauhinia acuminata flower in Hyderabad, India.
Bauhinia purpurea flower in Hyderabad, India.
Bauhinia racemosa flowers & fruits in Hyderabad, India.
Bauhinia tomentosa flowers in Hyderabad, India.
Bauhinia vahlii flower in Hyderabad, India.

Species

  • Bauhinia acuminata L. – Dwarf White Orchid Tree
  • Bauhinia aureifolia K.Larsen & S.S.Larsen – Gold Leaf Bauhinia
  • Bauhinia bassacensis Pierre ex Gagnep.
  • Bauhinia bidentata Jack – Orange Bauhinia
  • Bauhinia binata Blanco
  • Bauhinia × blakeana S. T. Dunn – Hong Kong Orchid Tree
  • Bauhinia bracteata (Graham ex Benth.) Baker
  • Bauhinia carronii F.Muell. – Northern Beantree, Red Bauhinia (Australia: Qld, NSW)
  • Bauhinia championi (Benth.) Benth.
  • Bauhinia corymbosa Roxb. ex DC. – Climbing Bauhinia
  • Bauhinia cumingiana Fern.-Vill. – Jigal Tree
  • Bauhinia curtisii Prain
  • Bauhinia cunninghamii (Benth.) Benth. – (Australia: WA, NT, Qld)
  • Bauhinia ferruginea Roxb.
  • Bauhinia flagelliflora Wunderlin
  • Bauhinia forficata J.H.F.Link – Brazilian Orchid Tree
  • Bauhinia galpinii N.E.Br. – Red Orchid Tree
  • Bauhinia gilva (F.M.Bailey) A.S.George – (Australia: NT, SA, Qld, NSW)
  • Bauhinia glabra syn. Bauhinia cumanensis – Monkey Ladder Vine
  • Bauhinia glauca (Wall. ex Benth.) – Climbing Bauhinia
  • Bauhinia grevei
  • Bauhinia guianensis syn. Bauhinia excisa – Granny backbone
  • Bauhinia harmsiana Hosseus
  • Bauhinia hirsuta Weinm.
  • Bauhinia hookeri F.Muell. – White Bauhinia, Pegunny, Mountain Ebony, Queensland Ebony, Hooker's Bauhinia (Australia: Qld)
  • Bauhinia integrifolia Roxb.
  • Bauhinia involucellata Kurz
  • Bauhinia lakhonensis Gagnep.
  • Bauhinia loeseneriana Harms
  • Bauhinia lunarioides A.Gray ex S.Watson – Anacacho Orchid Tree
  • Bauhinia malabarica Roxb. – Purple Orchid Tree
  • Bauhinia mombassae Vatke
  • Bauhinia monandra Kurz – Pink Orchid Tree
  • Bauhinia nervosa (Wall. ex Benth.) Baker
  • Bauhinia ornata Kurz
  • Bauhinia penicilliloba Pierre ex Gagnep.
  • Bauhinia pervilleana
  • Bauhinia picta (Kunth) DC.
  • Bauhinia pottsii G.Don
  • Bauhinia pulla Craib.
  • Bauhinia purpurea L.
  • Bauhinia racemosa Lam.
  • Bauhinia rufescens Lam.
  • Bauhinia saccocalyx Pierre
  • Bauhinia scandens L.
  • Bauhinia seminarioi Harms ex Eggers
  • Bauhinia siamensis K.Larsen & S.S.Larsen
  • Bauhinia similis Craib
  • Bauhinia sirindhorniae K.Larsen & S.S.Larsen
  • Bauhinia strychnifolia Craib
  • Bauhinia strychnoidea Prain
  • Bauhinia tomentosa L.
  • Bauhinia vahlii Wight & Arn.
  • Bauhinia variegata L.
  • Bauhinia viridescens Desv.
  • Bauhinia wallichii J.F.Macbr.
  • Bauhinia winitii Craib
  • Bauhinia yunnanensis Franch.

Formerly placed here

  • Tylosema esculentum (Burch.) A.Schreib. (as B. esculenta Burch.)
  • Tylosema fassoglense (Kotschy ex Schweinf.) Torre & Hillc. (as B. fassoglensis Kotschy ex Schweinf.)[3]

Gallery of Bauhinia racemosa

  • trunk in Hyderabad, India.

  • leaves & trunk in Hyderabad, India.

  • leaves & fruit pods in Hyderabad, India.

  • trunk in Hyderabad, India.

  • old & new leaves with flower buds in Hyderabad, India.

  • flowers & fruit pods in Hyderabad, India.

  • flowers & fruit pods in Hyderabad, India.

  • trunk in Hyderabad, India.

Gallery of Bauhinia tomentosa

  • in Hyderabad, India.

  • in Hyderabad, India.

  • in Hyderabad, India.

  • in Hyderabad, India.

  • in Chennai, India

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bauhinia.
Wikispecies has information related to: Bauhinia
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Genus: Bauhinia L.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2007-03-29. Retrieved 2010-12-06. 
  2. ↑ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607; OED: "Bauhinia"
  3. ↑ "GRIN Species Records of Bauhinia". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2010-12-06. 

External links

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