TopTropicals Plant Catalog

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Bauhinia malabarica Family: Caesalpinioideae / Caesalpiniaceae Lilac bauhinia, Malabar bauhinia Origin: Malesia Distributed in India, Burma, Indo-China, Thailand, the Philippines, Central and East Java, the Lesser Sunda Islands and northern Australia. A small spreading evergreen tree with lilac or pink flowers in spring. It has short bole with branches near the base. The leaves are broader than long, simple, alternate, with two blunt lobes reaching one-fourth way down, dull smooth or finely hairy on either side. Inflorescences are racemose, stalkless, dense, axillary and densely-flowered. The bright flowers make it an attractive ornament. In the Philippines, the wood of B. malabarica is used locally for temporary and interior construction and for the heels of slippers, and as firewood and for charcoal production. The young leaves are eaten as a side-dish together with rice in Java, and are used to flavour meat and fish in the Philippines; they taste sour and are also eaten as relish. The bark is used in Timor for poulticing wounds. An infusion of fresh flowers is reported as anti-dysenteric. In the Philippines, leaves are used to reduce fever and as aphrodisiac. B. malabarica often occurs in areas with a distinct dry season. In Java and Thailand, it is common in teak forest and open deciduous forest. See article about bauhinias. Link to this plant: http://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/bauhinia_malabarica.htm

Photo by John Gosden

Photo by John Gosden

Photo by John Gosden