Bauhinia tomentosa L.

Bauhinia tomentosa L.

Know our Plant

Systematic Classification:

Division   : Angiospermae 
Class      : Dicotyledons
Subclass   : Polypetalae
Series     : Calyciflora
Order      : Fabales
Family     : Fabaceae 
Genus      : Bauhinia 
Species    : tomentosa

Common Name:

Yellow bauhinia, Yellow bell orchid tree.

General Information:

Bauhinia tomentosa is a species of legume in the family Fabaceae. It is found in South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Tropical Africa, India and Sri Lanka.The plant is known to have antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Yellow bauhinia is a small tree with a maximum height of 4m.It has drooping slender branches with a scrambling stem usually is multi-stemmed. Greyish bark is smooth and sometimes hairy, which gives its specific name tomentosa. Greenish leaves are deeply divided and elliptic in nature; margin entire. Flowers bell-shaped with large, yellow petals with a dark maroon patch at the base. Fruit pale-brown is a pod.

Economic Importance:

  • B. tomentosa is primarily cultivated as an ornamental shrub.
  • It is also used as a hedge plant along fences or between blocks on agricultural lands. Trees yield a fibre suitable for making baskets.
  • The wood of B. tomentosa is used to make rafters for huts. Leaves are used to manufacture a yellow dye and as a fodder for goats.
  • This species also has widespread medicinal uses including as a febrifugal, antidiarrhoeal and antidysenteric remedy, and it is also used as an astringent.
  • The fruit is said to be diuretic, and the seed is eaten in India as a tonic and aphrodisiac.