Bauhinia variegata Linn., Sp. Pl. 375. 1753.
Common names: Mountain ebony, orchidtree
Hindi & Mar: Kachnar
Beng: Raktakanchan
Tam: Segapumanchori
Kan: Kanchavala
Mal: Chuvannamandarum
Tree up to 12 m tall; leaves 7-13 cm long, 10-15 cm broad, somewhat broader than long; cleft 1/3 with rounded lobes, base cordate, petiole 2-4 cm long; flowers 10-12 cm across, in short racemes, pedicel short or absent; calyx 2-2.5 cm long, 5-toothed at apex, tomentose; petals overlapping, 5-6 cm long, white to pink with purplish veins, fifth upper darker; stamens 5; pod 15-25 cm long, 1.5-2 cm thick
Photographed from Janak Puri, New Delhi in March, Flowers appearing generally before leaves.
--
Dr. Gurcharan Singh
Retired Associate Professor
SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007
Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018.
Phone: 011-25518297 Mob: 9810359089
http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/