Bauhinia bidentata (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Bauhinia bidentata Jack

Family: Leguminosae

Synonyms

Bauhinia cornifolia Baker.

Vernacular names

• Pride of Selangor (En)
• Malaysia: katup-katup, ketup-letup, dedaup
• Thailand: chong-kho paa dok daeng (peninsular), lep krarok (Pattani), lep kwhwaai lek (Yala).

Distribution

Nicobar Islands, southern Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia (Sumatra).

Uses

The long flexible stems are used for tying fences and are very durable. The use of the roots against toothache and of unspecified parts for nervous complaints is recorded from Malaysia. It is appreciated as an ornamental but difficult to propagate vegetatively and hence rare as a garden plant.

Observations

A large-tendrilled liana with glabrescent young branches. Leaves alternate; stipules about 5 mm long, early caducous; petiole 1.5-2.5 cm long; blade orbicular, ovate or elliptical, up to 14.5 cm × 12 cm, base cordate to truncate, apex entire, emarginate or shallowly bifid, 4-9-veined. Inflorescence corymbose; flower buds ovoid, apiculate, hypanthium tubular; flowers bisexual; calyx splitting into 3(-4) reflexed lobes; petals 5, unequal, obovate, 15-22 mm long, claw short, yellow turning red; stamens 3, staminodes 2-7, much smaller than stamens; ovary 3-5 mm in diameter, stipe about 3 mm long. Fruit a legume, oblong, up to 10 cm long, glabrous, up to 5-seeded, dehiscent. Seed flat, about 1 cm in diameter. Based on the hairiness of filaments, flower buds and leaf-blade shape, B. bidentata has been subdivided into 7 varieties. Of these varieties 5 are restricted to lowlands, and 2 to altitudes of over 1000 m.

Selected sources

20, 47, 49.

Authors

M. Brink, P.C.M. Jansen & C.H. Bosch