Many species are widely planted in the tropics as orchid trees, particularly in
India,
Sri Lanka,
Vietnam, Nepal and southeastern
China. Other common names include mountain ebony and kachnar. Before the family was reorganised,[5] a number of genera including the
lianas of genus Phanera were placed here (see
related genera).
In the
United States, the trees grow in
Hawaii, coastal
California,
Arizona,
Texas,
Louisiana, and
Florida. There are native species, like Bauhinia lunarioides native to Texas and widely planted in the Southwest as a landscape plant.[7]
Parts of some species of bauhinia like B. purpurea and B. malabarica are used in
Filipino cuisine (known collectively as alinbánban or alinbángbang,[8] "butterfly").[9]
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 thrive in alkaline 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.
Species
Accepted species
Plants of the World Online currently (March 2023) includes the following species:[2][10][11]
^
ab"Genus: Bauhinia L."Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2007-03-29. Archived from
the original on 2012-05-03. Retrieved 2010-12-06.
^Sinou C, Forest F, Lewis GP, Bruneau A (2009). "The genus Bauhinia s.l. (Leguminosae): a phylogeny based on the plastid trnL–trnF region". Botany. 87 (10): 947–960.
doi:
10.1139/B09-065.
^Seidemann, Johannes (2005). World Spice Plants. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. p. 64.
ISBN9783540279082.
^"ILDIS LegumeWeb entry for Bauhinia". International Legume Database & Information Service. Cardiff School of Computer Science & Informatics. Archived from
the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
^Bell W-A. (1963). Upper Cretaceous Floras of the Dunvegan, Bad Heart, and Milk River Formations of Western Canada (94th ed.). Canada: Dept. of Mines and Technical Surveys.
^Jacques FM, Shi GL, Su T, Zhou ZK (2015). "A tropical forest of the middle Miocene of Fujian (SE China) reveals Sino-Indian biogeographic affinities". Rev Palaeobot Palynol. 216: 76–91.
doi:
10.1016/j.revpalbo.2015.02.001.