Phanera variegata

Orchid tree
File:Bauhinia variegata flower.jpg
Flowers
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Genus:	Phanera
Species:	P. variegata
Binomial name
Phanera variegata (L.) Benth.

Phanera variegata is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, 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.

Description

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) 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.

In cultivation

This is a very popular ornamental tree in subtropical and tropical climates, grown for its scented flowers and also used as food item in South Asian cuisine. In the Neotropics, it can be used to attract hummingbirds—such as sapphire-spangled emerald (Amazilia lactea), glittering-bellied emerald (Chlorostilbon lucidus), or white-throated hummingbird (Leucochloris albicollis)—into gardens and parks. On the other hand, in some areas it has become naturalised and invasive.

Gallery

• 

  Habit of ornamental in Spain

• Bauhinia variegata Devakanchanam leaves Bhadrachalam.jpg

  'camel-foot' foliage

• Bauhinia variegata var candida in Hyderabad W IMG 4659.jpg

  var. candida in Hyderabad, India

• Bauhinia variegata MHNT.BOT.2011.3.22.jpg

  Seed pods and seeds — MHNT

Uses as food

Kachnar is widely used as an ingredient in many Pakistani and Indian recipes. Traditional kachnar curry is prepared using kachnar buds, yogurt, onions and native Pakistani Indian spices which is delicious and good for health.

References

• Baza Mendonça, Luciana & dos Anjos, Luiz (2005): Beija-flores (Aves, Trochilidae) e seus recursos florais em uma área urbana do Sul do Brasil [Hummingbirds (Aves, Trochilidae) and their flowers in an urban area of southern Brazil]. [Portuguese with English abstract] Revista Brasileira de Zoologia 22(1): 51–59. doi:10.1590/S0101-81752005000100007 PDF fulltext

External links

• Germplasm Resources Information Network: Phanera variegata (as Bauhinia variegata)
• Bauhinia variegata in West African plants – A Photo Guide.
• Invasive Species South Africa