Bauhinia, Bauhinia purpurea
Etymology: the Bauhinia is named "tree with orchids" in somecountires because its flower resembles the orchid.
Origin: Asia.
Habitat: It fears prolonged frost. It tolerates drought and poor soils.
Height: 12 m tall.
Form (insulated tree): spread.
Shape: crown in dome
Bark: grey, smooth.
Leaves: simple, round, cracked at the apex (end) in 2 lobes; 7-15 cm blade; length / breadth =1.
Flowers: grouped on racemes axillaries; of pink, variegated purple colour; 4 petals of shape obovate and one oval. They are fragrant.
Fruit: flattened pod, typical of leguminous plants, of brown colour to black, 15-18 cm long. Its texture is leathery. The fruit of Bauhinia contains oval seeds.
Use: the bauhinia is a nice ornamental tree, a few bulky. It can be cultivated in shrub variety, in house plant or under veranda.
Other species:
Bauhinia pulla: native to China, Korea, India, Southeast of the Asia. It has a splendid yellow blossoming. Petals like arachnids are very serrated.
Bauhinia monandra: native to Burma. The species name monandra is due to the fact that flowers includes only a stamen.
Bauhinia variegata yeast: native to Asia. Spectacular blossoming, with delicate fragrance.
Bauhinia tomentosa: native to Malaysia. Small shrub with leathery leaves and beautiful yellow flowers.
Bauhinia yunnanensis or Bauhinia saïgonensis is a climbing plant native to southwestern China (Yunnan Province). It has lobed leaves and strange flowers purple-pink orchid-shaped.
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