Edible: Flowers, Leaves, Seeds, Fruit, Gum
An evergreen shrub or small tree. It grows to 4-10 m high and spreads to 2 m across. The stem is erect and slender. The branches are crooked. The leaves are green and have 2 lobes which divide the leaves for half their length. They are rounded and 7-16 cm long and the same width. The leaf stalk is 3 cm long. The flowers are purple and orchid like. They are large and can be 6 cm across. They can occur either on their own or in flowering branches and can be in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches. The flower buds are 4-5 angled. The flower petals are reddish purple and often with coloured marks. The petals do not overlap and there are 3-4 stamens. The fruit are oblong brown pods. They are flattened and can be 25 cm long by 2 cm wide. There are 5-6 seeds. The seeds are 12-13 mm long.
A tropical plant. It is drought and frost tender. In Nepal it grows from 300-3000 m altitude. It can grow in arid places. In the Indian Himalayas it grows between 1,300-1,400 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 11-12. In Yunnan.
Common Names: Butterfly Tree, Purple orchid Tree, Aapta, Alibangbang, Barada, Bol-megong, Bunga kupu-kupu, Chee-kung, Ching-kho, Chingthrao angangba, Chuvannamandaram, Dev-Kanchan, Deva kanchan, Ger her kwo, Guiral, Javvahiru, Jia telong, Kachnar, Kachner, Kairwal, Kanchan, Kanchanam, Kandan, Kaniar, Karalli, Karar, Katumandaram, Keelra, Kha-lat, Khair-wal, Khuf al-jeme, Kobida, Koilar, Koina sag, Koiralo, Koliar, Kom arxa, Kowdel, Kurul, Levosii, Maha-hlega-ni, Mandari, Masi, Megong, Mong-bo do, Mong bo hoa tim, Msekese, Orhidejno drevo, Pacham, Phak-siew, Pohon bohinia ungu, Purple Bauhinia, Rakia kanchan, Rakia-kanchan, Rakto kanchan, Rato kanchan, Sarul, Shivapa, Sona, Swedae-ni, Taa-ki, Tanki, Tapak kuda, Tapak unta, Tingka lakchu, Vaibeh, Vaubeh, Vau-fa-vang, Zi Yangtija
Synonyms:
Bauhinia platyphylla Spanoghe;
Bauhinia castrata Blanco;
Bauhinia coromandeliana DC.;
Bauhinia rosea Corner;
Bauhinia triandra Roxb.;
Bauhinia kurzii;
Bauhinia purpurea var. violacea de Wit.;
Bauhinia violacea Corner;
Caspareopsis purpurea (L.) Pittier;
Phanera purpurea (L.) Benth.;