Bauhinia racemosa

Bauhinia racemosa is a small crooked and deciduous tree with drooping branches growing up to 10 m. It has a short bole and a spreading and compact crown.

The bark of Bauhinia racemosa is grey-brownish, thick , rough and deeply fissured on old trees.

The leaves of Bauhinia racemosa grow alternately on the stem (spirally arranged).
The leaf is simple, light green coloured above and paler beneath. The leaf is coriaceous and glabrous on both sides (minute hairs on the the main veins of the lower side).
The leaves have a 2.5-3 cm long petiole.
The leaf of Bauhinia racemosa is 6-8 cm long and 7-9 cm wide.
The leaf is formed of twin leaflets connate about half way. So, the leaf is deeply divided into two lobes sometimes overlapping and making the characteristic "camel foot" shape.
The apex is obtuse, the base is cordate and the margins are entire.
The venation of the leaf is reticulate with 9 prominent veins.

The flowers of Bauhinia racemosa are grouped in axillary or terminal racemes. The inflorescence is 8-12 cm long, pubescent and the peduncle is about 1 cm long.
When the bud opens, the calyx split on one side and curved backwards.
The calyx is light green and pubescent outside and glabrous inside.
The corolla is composed of 5 white-coloured and narrow petals. The petals are oblong and recurved, 1 cm long and 1.5 mm wide. They are pubescent outside.
The pedicel of the flowers is pubescent and 2-3 mm long.
The androecium is composed of 10 pilose stamens. The filaments are 5 mm long and pilose at the base. The anthers are 1.5 mm long and pilose.
The pistil is composed of a compressed and 8-9 mm long ovary and a sessile stigma. The style is reduced. The ovary contains numerous ovules.
The buds are falcate, covered with white hairs and about 1-1.2 cm long.
The flowers are fragrant.
 

The fruit of Bauhinia racemosa is a compressed pod. It is slightly curved and about 8-15 cm and 2 cm wide. The pod of Bauhinia racemosa is indehiscent and remain on the tree for several months. Each pod contains 10-15 seeds.

The seeds of Bauhinia racemosa are ovoid and compressed. They are 8 mm long and 6 mm wide, shiny and reddish-brown coloured. There are between 10 and 15 seeds in a pod.

In veterinary medicine the leaf juice of Bauhinia racemosa is given to lamb for diarrhea. (Quattrocchi, 2012, CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants)

The leaves of Bauhinia racemosa are used in the production of beedis (the thin Indian cigarette).

The bark of Bauhinia racemosa yields a strong fibre used for cordage. (Krishen, 2006, Trees of Delhi)

The seeds of Bauhinia racemosa can be roasted and eaten. (Krishen, 2006, Trees of Delhi).

The young fruits of Bauhinia racemosa can be eaten as a vegetable. (Sumy, Ved & Krishnan, FRLHT, 2000, Tropical Indian Medicinal Plants, propagation methods)