Bauhinia

Taxobox
name = "Bauhinia"


image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Bauhinia blakeana" flower
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Fabales
familia = Fabaceae
subfamilia = Caesalpinioideae
tribus = Cercideae
genus = "Bauhinia"
genus_authority = L.
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = See text

"Bauhinia" 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 tree grows in Hawaii, coastal California, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. "Bauhinia blakeana" is the floral emblem of Hong Kong, and a stylized orchid tree flower appears on the Hong Kong flag.

Description

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.

;Selected species:
*"Bauhinia acuminata" L.
*"Bauhinia aureifolia" K.Larsen & S.S.Larsen
*"Bauhinia bassacensis" Pierre ex Gagnep.
*"Bauhinia bidentata" Jack
*"Bauhinia binata" Blanco
*"Bauhinia blakeana"
*"Bauhinia bracteata" (Graham ex Benth.) Baker
*"Bauhinia championi"
*"Bauhinia corymbosa"
*"Bauhinia creaghi baker (Charles Vandeleur Creagh)
*"Bauhinia curtisii" Prain
*"Bauhinia ferruginea" Roxb.
*"Bauhinia flagelliflora"
*"Bauhinia forficata"
*"Bauhinia galpinii"
*"Bauhinia glauca" (Wall. ex Benth.)
*"Bauhinia harmsiana" Hosseus
*"Bauhinia hirsuta" Weinm.
*"Bauhinia integrifolia" Roxb.
*"Bauhinia involucellata" Kurz
*"Bauhinia lakhonensis" Gagnep.
*"Bauhinia lunarioides" (Anacacho Orchid Tree)
*"Bauhinia malabarica" Roxb.
*"Bauhinia mombassae"
*"Bauhinia monandra" Kurz
*"Bauhinia nervosa" (Wall. ex Benth.) Baker
*"Bauhinia ornata" Kurz
*"Bauhinia penicilliloba" Pierre ex Gagnep.
*"Bauhinia perpurea"
*"Bauhinia pottsii" G.Don
*"Bauhinia pulla" Craib.
*"Bauhinia purpurea" L.
*"Bauhinia racemosa" Lam.
*"Bauhinia saccocalyx" Pierre
*"Bauhinia scandens" L.
*"Bauhinia seminarioi"
*"Bauhinia siamensis" K.Larsen & S.S.Larsen
*"Bauhinia similis" Craib
*"Bauhinia sirindhorniae" K.Larsen & S.S.Larsen
*"Bauhinia strychnifolia" Craib
*"Bauhinia strychnoidea" Prain
*"Bauhinia tomentosa" L.
*"Bauhinia vahlii"
*"Bauhinia variegata" L.
*"Bauhinia viridescens" Desv.
*"Bauhinia wallichii" J.F.Macbr.
*"Bauhinia winitii" Craib
*"Bauhinia yunnanensis" Franch.

Gallery of "Bauhinia racemosa"