Bauhinia vahlii (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Bauhinia vahlii Wight & Arn.

Family: Leguminosae

Distribution

Native to the southern Himalayas of Nepal and India; also in the lowlands of eastern India, and extending to Burma (Tenasserim). Rarely cultivated in South-East Asia, e.g. in Peninsular Malaysia.

Uses

The bark is used for tanning hides into leather. The leaves serve as fodder, the seeds are used as a pulse. The stems are used for matting, basketry and wickerwork, and also for medicinal purposes.

Observations

A large climber or straggling shrub having abundant tendrils. The bark contains up to 17% tannin. The tannin cannot be extracted easily, but is of very good quality, penetrating hides quickly and producing a light-coloured, soft leather. Plants are fairly easy to grow, and may be a promising source of tanning material.

Selected sources

12, 20, 29, 45.