Bauhinia variegata Orchid tree
Family
Fabaceae
Genus
Bauhinia
Species
variegata
Bauhinia variegata is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is
native to South Asia and Southeast Asia, from southern China, Burma, India, Nepal,
Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Common names include orchid tree, camel's foot tree, kachnar
and mountain-ebony.
It is a small to medium-sized tree growing to 10–12 metres
(33–39 ft) tall, deciduous in the dry season. The leaves are 10–20 centimetres (3.9–7.9
in) obcordate shaped, long and broad, rounded, and bilobed at the base and apex. The
flowers are conspicuous, bright pink or white, 8–12 centimetres (3.1–4.7 in) diameter,
with five petals. The fruit is a pod 15–30 centimetres (5.9–11.8 in) long, containing
several seeds.