Bauhinia viridescens
Description
Shrub up to 4 m.
Leaves: stipules from setiform to triangular, puberulous, 2-3 mm; intrastipular spines often well-developed into curved thorns, 2-3 mm; petiole ± pubescent, 2-5 cm; lamina ovate, sometimes broader than long, 6-15 cm diam.; 7-11-nerved; bifid 1/3- 2/3, usually with broad sinus; tip of lobes obtuse or acute, base truncate to cordate; upper surface glabrous, lower glabrescent or shortly pubescent particularly on the nerves.
Inflorescences lateral and terminal narrow racemes, 5-15 cm; pedicels glabrous, 2-3 mm; bracts ovate, acute, 2-5 mm; bracteoles minute, inserted near the base of the pedicel.
Petals greenish white, obovate to lanceolate, 7-12 mm; claw short.
Seeds 6-10, compressed, orbicular, 3-4 mm diam.
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: Cambodia (Cambodia present); Laos (Laos present); Lesser Sunda Is. present; Thailand (Thailand present); Vietnam (Vietnam present), Burma present, Timor present
Monsoon area of Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.. South of equator found under similar conditions in Malesia: Timor and Wetar (Lesser Sunda Islands)
Morphology
Bauhinia viridescens is a very variable species particularly concerning leaf size and indumentum. The Malesian material from Timor and Wetar belongs to var. viridescens.
Citation
Baker 1878 – In: Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 2: 276
Gagnep. 1913 – In: Fl. Indo-Chine: 147
Span. 1841 – In: Linnaea: 202
Decne. 1835: Herb. Timor. Descr.: 138
Wunderlin, Larsen & Larsen 1987 – In: Biol. Skr. Dan. Vid. Selsk.: 14, 15.
Larsen & Larsen 1973 – In: Nat. Hist. Bull. Siam Soc.: 18
Larsen & Larsen 1984 – In: Fl. Thailand: 16
de Wit 1956 – In: Reinwardtia: 413
Burm.f. 1877 – In: Fl. Burma: 396
Larsen & Larsen 1980 – In: Fl. Camb., Laos & Vietnam: 161
Baker 1878: p. 276. – In: Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 2: 'B. timoriensis'
Craib 1928 – In: Fl. Siam. Enum.: 525.
Larsen & Larsen 1980 – In: Thai For. Bull.: 43