Bauhinia

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Bauhinia
Bauhinia × blakeana 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 (play /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. 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.

Contents

[edit] Description

Bauhinia is also known as Mountain Ebony, Purple Orchid tree or simply Orchid tree, and 'Kachnar' in India and Pakistan. 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 high lights.

[edit] Culture

Propagation: Seeds or cuttings. Soil: Acidic. Bauhinia does not tolerate salty conditions. Exposure: Full sun but can be grown under partial sun too. Watering: Generously watering during summer; moderate moisture 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.
Bauhinia variegata flower in Hyderabad, India.

[edit] Species

[edit] Formerly placed here

[edit] Gallery of Bauhinia racemosa

[edit] Gallery of Bauhinia tomentosa

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "Genus: Bauhinia L.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2007-03-29. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/genus.pl?1337. 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. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?1337. Retrieved 2010-12-06. 

[edit] External links

Portal icon Trees portal

Media related to Bauhinia at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Bauhinia at Wikispecies

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