Kachnar (Bauhinia variegata)- Raktakanchan or Mountain Ebony

[J.M. Garg]

One of the most beautiful Bauhinias, pictures were taken at Bot. Gardens, Kolkata in Feb'07. It is quite confused with other Bauhinias & can be distinguished from them by 5 long stamen, shallow cleft in the leaf, three central overlapping petals, colour of its flowers etc. It reaches upto middle-sized tree height. Native to India, it's one of the most beautiful flowering tres, flowering from Feb. to april, in almost leafless condition.
--
With regards,
J.M.Garg
"Enjoy every moment of your life"

For learning about our trees & plants, please visit http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en

[alo]

Hello Dear,
This wonder of nature captured by u is Bauhinia purpurea Linn.
( Family ---Fabaceae; Sub-Family--- Caesalpineae ) . In Bengali it
is " Deva Kanchan / Koiral " . This species shows two types of
floral colour viz.-----Purplish pink / Pale Purple.
Thanks a lot.
Waiting for ur ans.

Akram
U.R.B.I.

> Flower I2 IMG_3348.jpg
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> Flowering Canopy I IMG_3359.jpg
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> Fruit I IMG_3350.jpg
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> Leaves I IMG_3354.jpg
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> Trunk I IMG_3346.jpg
> 204KViewDownload

[J.M. Garg]

Thanks, Alo ji for the feedback,

But, it's Bauhinia variegata only.

It shall be posting Bauhinia purpurea shortly. It has flowers with narrow petals which do not overlap, three long stamen. It's leaves has cleft runnng deeply upto halfway down the middle with inner edges overlapping. 

 

[alo]

Hi friend ,
The criterions by which u want to differentiate these two species
viz.-----
1) Narrow petals,
2) Number of Stamens (3/5) , &
3) Apical Cleft of Leaves .
But I want to inform U, these characters are not the "KEY"
characters / differentiating characters .

Rather the following characters are the "KEY" characters
viz.----
1) Calyx limb entire ( B. variegata) /
irregularly 3-5 cleft (B. purpurea).
2) Calyx limb equalling the cylindric tube
( B. variegata)/calyx limb longer than the turbinate tube ( B.
purpurea).

Another information for U --- Both the species posses
fertile stamens almost always 3 , rarely 4 - 5 . Moreover The
floral colour of B. variegata varies --- it may be Pure White -----
Pink.( Though its Bengali vernacular name is Rakto Kanchan ) Its
another vern. name is also Swet Kanchan.

So according to the above detailed causes I may conclude that
your both photos belong to the same species B. purpurea.

Thanks,

AKRAM
U.R.B.I.

On Jul 12, 7:37 am, "J.M. Garg" <jmga...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Thanks, Alo ji for the feedback,
> But, it's Bauhinia variegata only.
> It shall be posting Bauhinia purpurea shortly. It has flowers with narrow
> petals which do not overlap, three long stamen. It's leaves has cleft runnng
> deeply upto halfway down the middle with inner edges overlapping.
>

> For learning about our trees & plants, please visithttp://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[J.M. Garg]

Thanks, Alo ji.

I am posting two more pictures of the buds of both species & seek your advice whether it is correct or both are B.purpurea. As per Pradip Krishen book, I have named them. Differences I stated were based on trees of Delhi by him. As per this the buds are smooth & not ribbed for B.variegata, but they are velvety,distinctly five angled & appearing striped for B.purpurea.