Bauhinia tomentosa

• Botanical Name : Bauhinia tomentosa L.

• The name Bauhinia refers to the two lobes of the leaf. The name is given by Linnaeus in honour of twin brothers - John Bauhin and Gaspard Bauhin, French botanists, who contributed a lot to the study of herbs.

• Common Name : Pido Kachnar, Pido Abondaro
• Plant Family : Caesalpiniaceae
• Plant Form : Shrub
• Occurrence (Special Areas) : Gujarat Forestry Research Foundation, Indroda Park

About Bauhinia tomentosa Plant :

• Habit : A erect largeshrub or small tree with young tomentosebranches.
• Leaves : Broader than long,divided a little than half way down into 2 rounded lobes, hairy below, base truncate, rarely subcordate, glabrous above, reddish tomentose beneath, main nerves 7 or rarely 9 from base.
• Inflorescence: Solitary or in pairs.
• Flowers : Usually in pairs, rarely 1 - 3, on short axillary or leaf - opposed peduncles, bracts and bracteoles present, calyx hairy, broadly ovate, spathaceous, petals up to 5 cm long, yellow or creamy yellow,obovate - spathulated, imbricate, the upper petals with a purple blot on a face,  stamens 10 fertile, the filaments long, unequal, ovary stalked, hairy, stigma peltate.
• Fruit : Pod black, veined,flattened, 10 - 12 cm long, 1.2 - 1.8 cm broad, slightly puberulous when fully ripe, pointed at the apex.
• Seeds : 8 - 12, oblong, smooth, glabrous.
• Flowering and Fruiting time : November - January
• Significance :
  • A decoction of the rootbark is used in inflammations of the liver and as a vermifuge.
  • The fruit is diuretic.
  • The bark is made into an infusion and used as an astringent gargle.