Bauhinia praesignis
Content
Description
Large tendrilled climber, all parts reddish brown velvety; stems c. 2 cm diam., young branches striate.
Leaves: stipules auriculate, glabrous inside, c. 15 mm broad; petiole stout, 4-8 cm long; lamina ovate, 18-25 by 15-20 cm, 13-15-nerved; bifid 1/3; tip of lobes acute to obtuse, base deeply cordate; upper surface glabrous; lower densely reddish brown, woolly pubescent.
Inflorescences terminal, to 30 cm long, rusty velvety racemes, sometimes with 1 (or 2) basal side branches; axis angulate; bracts ovate, carinate, 15-25 mm long, velvety outside, glabrous inside; bracteoles lanceolate, slightly smaller, inserted at the base of the hypanthium.
Petals white, narrowly lanceolate, 3.5-4 cm long, tapering towards the claw, reddish brown hairy outside.
Stamens 3 fertile, red; filaments stout, c. 25 mm (in bud); anthers 2-2.5 cm long, narrowly ellipsoid; staminodes 2, stout, 12-14 mm long with bifid apex.
Ovary c. 1 cm, stipe reddish pubescent, c. 1 cm; style thick; stigma indistinct.
Seeds 6 or 7 (not seen).